Ye Sacred Muses is William Byrd's Musical elegy on the death of his colleague and sometime mentor, Thomas Tallis. It is scored for 5 vv (usually four viols and countertenor).

The words are:-

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.

The concluding lines are particularly effective and are repeated.

Reference

• Words and music links at the ChoralWiki (requires NoteWorthy Composer)
• Informal performance by 'Wolftooth' (viol consort and alto)

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