Composition Spotlight: To Mistress Margaret Hussey

COMPOSITION SPOTLIGHT ~ by Jack Senzig

 

​(Each week we look at a piece of useful repertoire from the ChoralNet Community Composition Showcase.  A variety of voicings and levels of difficulty will be presented.  Enjoy!)

 

To Mistress Margaret Hussey by Karen P. Thomas  for SATB a cappella (click for PDF and audio)

Alnight by the Rose by Karen P. Thomas for SSAATTBB a cappella (click for PDF and audio)

Level: Advanced High School or higher

Uses:  Spring Concert

Program Themes:  Madrigals Frorm Many Ages,  What's in a Name?

These pieces would program well together.  There is a third piece in the set as well titled Westron Wind.

 

I couldn't seperate these two wonderfully diverse but connected pieces.  Both are excellent modern settings of Medieval texts.  The first is similar in feel if not harmony to pieces you would use at a May Day Madrigal feast.  The second is much more reflective and sustaining Reminiscent of Einojuhani Rautavaara's gorgeous Canticum Mariae Virginis (see iTunes), with which it would program well.  Both works show the depth of expression Karen P. Thomas is capable of and warrants delving further into her works. 

 

Both works are available from the composer.