"Ye sacred Muses" by William Byrd

 

Ye sacred Muses, race of Jove,

whom Music's lore delighteth,

Come down from crystal heav'ns above

to earth where sorrow dwelleth,

In mourning weeds, with tears in eyes:

Tallis is dead, and Music dies.

Note: on this day, 4 July 1623, William Byrd, the British composer, died. Byrd was born in 1539 or 1540 in London, England. When Thomas Tallis, one of Byrd's teachers died, Byrd composed both the words and music to this lament on his loss, the lyrics ending with the line, "Tallis is dead, and Music dies". Words that are both memorable and moving.