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• Byrd, William: Susanna Fair

Byrd, William: Susanna Fair

for 3 voices or instruments.

This madrigal comes from William Byrd´s Songs of Sundry Natures, published in 1589. The text is an English translation of a poem that was made famous in a setting by Roland de Lassus (Susanne un jour, published as LPM REP7a). Interestingly, Edmund Fellowes, the editor of volume XV of The English Madrigalists, decided that the original song, with its reference to dirty old men, was not suitable for “practical use”, and substitute a sentimental ditty in which Susanne succumbs rather easily, if not to a dirty old man.
In this edition the music has been transposed down a fourth, to bring it into a more comfortable range for most purposes. The original note values have been retained.