“Five from the Folder: Mixed Voices (+ an SSAA)” by Howard Meharg

FIVE FROM THE FOLDER: MIXED VOICSE (+ an SSAA) by Howard Meharg

 

1. “Tu Es Petrus.” Robert Pearsall. Oxford University Press
SSAATTBB unaccompanied Adapted from Pearsall's own eight-part madrigal 'Lay a garland' (also available from OUP), 'Tu es Petrus' is replete with fine polyphonic writing and rich, expressive sonorities

 

2. “Long Road.” Eriks Esenvalds. Musica Baltica #10318768

Wonderful lyrics on poetry by Paulina Barda. Beautiful melody. Some slightly esoteric sounds in a middle section requiring flute, bells, triangle, assorted small percussion instruments)

 

3. “Lamento dello Ninfa.” Claudio Monteverdi. CPDL

Calls for a men’s chorus or ensemble with a great soprano solo

 

4. “Si, ch’io vorrei morire.” Claudio Monteverdi. CPDL

Passionate love song, dramatic and full of the dissonances only Monteverdi (of that era) could provide. One might take care with concern about exact translation in use with younger voices.

 

5. “Sweet By and By” Arr. Daniel Hall (SSAA). Walton HL08501694 (WLG120)

The highly inspirational poem is about hope and faith. It’s based on a gospel hymn of the 19th century. The statement of the simple melody leads to a section of marvelous dissonance before resolving to simple unison…a kind of “this is life” metaphor.

 

(“Five from the Folder” provides brief, text-length reviews of vocal works currently in the folders of choral directors throughout the United States.  To share five from your folder, contact Scott Dorsey at )