Ah, Robin

Wm. Cornysh (~1465 - 1523)

Ah, Rob-in, gen-tle Rob-in,
Tell me how thy le-man doth and thou shalt know of mine.
My la-dy is un-kind I wis, A-lack, why is she so?
Lov'th a-no-ther bet-ter than me and yet she will say no.
Ah, Rob-in, gen-tle Rob-in,
Tell me how thy le-man doth and thou shalt know of mine.
I can-not think such dou-ble-ness for I find wo-men true,
In faith my la-dy lov'th me well, she will change for no new.
Ah, Rob-in, gen-tle Rob-in,
Tell me how thy le-man doth and thou shalt know of mine.

Kataryna's notes:
     This song was performed at the AS XXXV Avacal Coronet by The Troubadours du Bois' Choir:  Lady Alycie, Mistress Fabienne l'Accusee, Lady Pandora, Lady Gabrielle, and Lady Genoveffa, Lady Elizabeth, and Lady Brianne.
(I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong).

Notes by Mistress Fabienne l'Accusee:
       This is another typical example of how advanced English renaissance
polyphony and its harmonies had become at this time; Cornysh was
considered one of the most forward-thinking composers in Europe at the
beginning of the 16th century. It is a double canon, with two vocal
lines almost in a round with each other, and a discantus line at the top
with additional harmonies, so the melody is in the middle, not at the
top as our modern ear is accustomed to. It sings of love lost due to
infidelity.