Western Wynde

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Western Wynde. Eng. 16th-cent. secular tune used as cantus firmus in Masses by Taverner, Tye, and John Shepherd which are therefore known as ‘Western Wynde’ Masses. The use of secular tunes in sacred mus. was eventually banned by the RC church, not surprisingly when one considers that the anonymous and beautiful words to which congregations were accustomed to hearing this tune sung were:Western wynde, when wilt thou blow,
The small raine down can raine.
Christ, if my love were in my armes
And I in my bedde again!

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Western Wynde

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