The Lyke Wake Dirge

The Lyke Wake dirge is a widely performed Yorkshire traditional song, with text said to date back to the 14th century. Its bleak words tell of the soul’s journey after death, with the landscape of the Yorkshire Moors setting the scene for torments visited upon those who were not charitable during their lives. The message is simple: if you were kind, and gave ’meat or drink’ to the needy, you will be spared the torments of hell. If you were not, you will be pricked ’to the bare bane’ by the thorns of Whinny Moor! These ancient words, bleak as they may be, still resonate today with singers who believe in the sanctity of kindness. My arrangement, for SSAATB solo-voice ensemble, was commissioned and performed by the Marian Consort. The audio heard here is taken (with permission) from their gorgeous performance video, available here: The score is available to purchase in my shop: The Marian Consort, directed by Rory McCleery Alexandra Kidgell, Caroline Halls, soprano Sarah Anne Champion, alto Rory McCleery, alto Will Wright, tenor Jon Stainsby, bass Producer - Jacob Ewens Engineer - Tom Mungall web: