Lyke Wake Dirge, The

Waltz · 3/4 · A minor

The Lyke Wake Dirge is a traditional English musical setting of a famous medieval death lyric from Yorkshire that describes the soul's perilous journey across the afterlife. Set in A minor with a steady 3/4 waltz meter, the tune has an uncertain specific compositional history while functioning in folk tradition as a haunting and somber lament. Its modal character and measured tempo evoke a solemn, reflective atmosphere well-suited to the macabre and cautionary nature of the ancient text.

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