Eight medieval lyrics for unaccompanied voices (SSATB). Autograph music manuscript, in pencil. Signed, and dated 'Dec 1974 - Jan 1975' (f. 2).
The volume comprises:
- title page ('Mediaeval Lyrics / Sacred & Profane'), with Britten's initials and his dedication: 'For P[eter]P[ears] & the Wilbye Consort' (f. 1);
- second title page ('Sacred & Profane / 8 Mediaeval Lyrics for 5 Voices') with Britten's signature, the dedication repeated, and a note at the bottom of the folio that the sequence of the lyrics should be attacca, breaking briefly between lyrics 5 and 6 if required (f. 2);
- 1. 'St Godric's Hymn' (f. 3-3v);
- 2. 'I mon waxe wode' (f. 4-4v);
- 3. 'Lenten is Come' (ff. 5-6v);
- 4. 'The Long Night' (ff. 7-8);
- 5. 'Yif Ic of Luve Can' (f. 9-9v);
- 6. 'Carol' (ff. 10-11), dated 'Dec 30th';
- 7. 'Ye that passen by' (f. 12-12v);
- 8. 'A Death' (ff. 13-16), dated 'Jan 9th 1974' (the year conflicts with dating elsewhere in the manuscript and it would appear that Britten intended '1975').
First performance: 14 September 1975, Snape Maltings Concert Hall (the Wilbye Consort, Peter Pears conducting).