“I Sing of a Maiden” (Middle English “I Syng of a Mayden”, sometimes titled “As Dewe in Aprille”) is a lyric poem or carol, circa 1400, celebrating the Annunciation and the Virgin Birth of Jesus. It has been described as one of the most admired short vernacular English poems of the late Middle Ages.
The text of the five quatrains celebrates the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary as described in Luke 1:26-38, and through images from the Old Testament (dew falling on grass, flower and spray; “May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!” – Psalm 72:6) references the Nativity of Jesus. The repeated lyric at the beginning of the second, third, and fourth quatrains (“He came also stylle,” or “He came all so still” alludes to the tranquility and grace of Mary’s acceptance of the angel Gabriel’s announcement and to the humble, quiet circumstances of Jesus’ birth.
Many scholars have noted the subtle wordplay in the opening words, “I syng of a mayden that is makeles” (MAH-ke-less, sometimes “make-less” in modern pronunciations), meaning “immaculate” (unmated) as well as “unmatched” (peerless or unequaled). In this setting for solo soprano and SATB voices, the word “matchless” is used.
Only the lyrics to this venerable carol survive, although from the opening words “I sing of a maiden,” it is clear that it was meant to be sung. Since the rediscovery of the text in the mid-nineteenth century, numerous composers, including R.R. Terry, Gustav Holst, Martin Shaw, Arnold Bax, Peter Warlock, Benjamin Britten, Bob Chilcott, and John Rutter have set the text to music.
SATB/organ score (2 pages, 8.5×11″)
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