Will Yow Walke the Woods soe Wylde
Encyclopedia
Will Yow Walke the Woods soe Wylde is the title of a song from the Tudor era
, popularly believed to have been a favourite of Henry VIII
. The complete text of the song has not survived, but contained the short refrain:
The melody of the song can be found in several compositions of the period, and would appear to have been popular with composers, perhaps because of its sprightly melody in the Lydian mode
, or because it evoked a pastoral mood in the minds of contemporary listeners.
The song gave rise to two important keyboard works of the late Tudor era: the first, by William Byrd, probably dates from the late 1590s. Byrd constructed 14 exquisite variation
s on the melody, starting with a simple 'rustic' presentation of the theme with a drone accompaniment and concluding with a richly polyphonic final variation. Byrd's composition was so popular at the time of composition that it was printed in several manuscripts, and appears in two of the most important collections of keyboard music of the Renaissance
, My Ladye Nevells Booke
and the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
.
The second keyboard work, also published in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
is by Orlando Gibbons
and consists of 8 beautifully crafted variations on the melody, some in a highly virtuoso style, others in a contrapuntal manner similar in style to his vocal music of the same period.
In 1597, John Dowland
composed a song entitled Can she excuse my wrongs (also known as 'The Earl of Essex
's Galliard'). Setting a poem by Robert Devereux
, the song appears to be a personal plea, addressed to Queen Elizabeth II, after the famous courtier had fallen from favour. The song quotes from the melody of Will Yow Walke the Woods soe Wylde as a symbolic reference to the poet's sense of isolation from the Elizabethan court.
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
, popularly believed to have been a favourite of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. The complete text of the song has not survived, but contained the short refrain:
- 'Shall I go walk the wood so wild, wandering, wandering, here and there'.
The melody of the song can be found in several compositions of the period, and would appear to have been popular with composers, perhaps because of its sprightly melody in the Lydian mode
Lydian mode
The Lydian musical scale is a rising pattern of pitches comprising three whole tones, a semitone, two more whole tones, and a final semitone. This sequence of pitches roughly describes the fifth of the eight Gregorian modes, known as Mode V or the authentic mode on F, theoretically using B but in...
, or because it evoked a pastoral mood in the minds of contemporary listeners.
The song gave rise to two important keyboard works of the late Tudor era: the first, by William Byrd, probably dates from the late 1590s. Byrd constructed 14 exquisite variation
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
s on the melody, starting with a simple 'rustic' presentation of the theme with a drone accompaniment and concluding with a richly polyphonic final variation. Byrd's composition was so popular at the time of composition that it was printed in several manuscripts, and appears in two of the most important collections of keyboard music of the Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
, My Ladye Nevells Booke
My Ladye Nevells Booke
My Ladye Nevells Booke is a music manuscript containing keyboard pieces by the English composer William Byrd, and, together with the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, one of the most important collections of keyboard music of the renaissance.-Description:My Ladye Nevells Booke consists of 42 pieces for...
and the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book is a primary source of keyboard music from the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods in England, i.e., the late Renaissance and very early Baroque. It takes its name from Viscount Fitzwilliam who bequeathed this manuscript collection to Cambridge University in 1816...
.
The second keyboard work, also published in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book is a primary source of keyboard music from the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods in England, i.e., the late Renaissance and very early Baroque. It takes its name from Viscount Fitzwilliam who bequeathed this manuscript collection to Cambridge University in 1816...
is by Orlando Gibbons
Orlando Gibbons
Orlando Gibbons was an English composer, virginalist and organist of the late Tudor and early Jacobean periods...
and consists of 8 beautifully crafted variations on the melody, some in a highly virtuoso style, others in a contrapuntal manner similar in style to his vocal music of the same period.
In 1597, John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, singer, and lutenist. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep" , "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and has...
composed a song entitled Can she excuse my wrongs (also known as 'The Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals. The earldom was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville . Upon the death of the third earl in 1189, the title became dormant or extinct...
's Galliard'). Setting a poem by Robert Devereux
Robert Devereux
Robert Devereux may refer to:*Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, executed for treason*Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, son of the above*Roberto Devereux, an opera by Donizetti*Robert Devereux...
, the song appears to be a personal plea, addressed to Queen Elizabeth II, after the famous courtier had fallen from favour. The song quotes from the melody of Will Yow Walke the Woods soe Wylde as a symbolic reference to the poet's sense of isolation from the Elizabethan court.