Optimam partem elegit

   
William Byrd (c.1540-1623)

      
]< {  
Superius
[Soprano]


Op - ti - mam par - tem e

  
- - le - git, e -
<      
Medius
[ {       

[Alto]


   
Op - ti - mam par - tem e - le - - - -
     
[< {   


Contratenor
[Tenor]


Op - ti - mam par - tem e - le - git,
[< 
{      

Tenor
[Tenor]


Bassus ^ << {  
 
    
[Bass]

 10
   
         
- le - git, op - ti - mam par - tem e - le -

       

  
  
 
- git, op - ti - mam par - tem

e -
 
     

 op - ti - mam par - tem e - - le - git, e - le - - -

           
      
 Op - ti - mam par - tem


e - le - - - - git, e - le -

          
  

Op - ti - mam par - tem e - le - git, e - le -

          
    
- git si - bi Ma - ri - a, si -

                  
a,


- le - - git si - bi Ma - ri - a, Ma - ri - si - bi Ma - ri - a,
      

       
 - git
 
si - bi Ma - ri - a, si - bi Ma - ri - a, si - bi Ma -
          
  


- - - - git si - bi Ma - ri - a, si -

            
   
- git si - bi Ma - ri - a, si - bi Ma - ri -

© David Fraser 2008

        
20
  
  
- bi Ma - ri - a,


quæ no au - fe - re - tur,

             

Ma -
 
ri - - a, quæ non au - fe - re - tur, quæ
      
      
 - ri - a, quæ non au - fe - re - tur, quæ non au -

            


- bi Ma - ri - a, quæ non au - fe - re - tur,
    
        
- a, quæ non au - fe - re - tur,

     
          
quæ non au - fe - re - tur ab e - a in æ - ter -

 
           
   
 
non au - fe - re - tur ab e - a in æ - ter - - num, quæ non au - fe -
    
            
 - fe - re - tur, quæ non au - fe - re - tur, quæ non au - fe -
   
              
 au - fe

   
- re - tur, quæ non au - fe - re - tur ab e - a in
      

      
quæ non au - fe - re - tur, quæ non au - fe - re - tur

  
          
30
   
- num, ab e - a in æ - ter - num, ab e - a

       
        
 


- re - tur ab e - a, ab e - a in æ - ter - num, ab

                  
 - re - tur ab e - a in æ - ter - num, in æ - ter - -
  
           


æ - ter - num, ab e - a in æ - ter - num,
       

      
ab e - a in æ - ter - num, ab
2
             
  
in æ - ter - num, ab e - a in æ - ter -


            
e - - - a in æ - ter - num, in æ - ter - num,

 
      
  
 
 - num, ab e - - a in æ - ter - num, in æ - ter -

           
 in
  
  
æ - ter - num, ab e - - - - - a

   
  
          
e - - a in æ - ter - - - - - num, in

            


- num, in æ - ter - - - - - - num.

            
in æ - ter - - - - - num.
      
   

 - num, in æ - ter - - - - - - num.

            

   
in æ - ter - - - - - - - - num.
               
 
æ - ter - - - - - - - - - - - num.

Source: William Byrd: Gradualia, ac cantiones sacræ... Liber primus (2nd edition, 1610), vol.1 no.25.
Text: Luke 10: 42

Liturgical function: Mass, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin:

Introit: Gaudeamus omnes
Gradual & Alleluia: Propter veritatem - Assumpta est Maria
Offertory: Assumpta est Maria
Communion: Optimam partem elegit

Part of my complete edition of the published vocal works of William Byrd made available through the Choral Public Domain Library (http://www.cpdl.org).
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