Cantimus de Amore: SATB Choral Octavo

Hayes crafts a sophisticated blend of Baroque harmonic language with contemporary text setting, creating a piece that sounds both timeless and accessible to modern choirs. The alternating Latin and English text gives programming flexibility and adds textural intrigue, while the minor-key setting provides the kind of expressive depth that audiences remember. This is the work of a composer who understands what makes choral music both singable and compelling.

The minor key and Baroque idiom create an introspective, elegant mood that draws the listener inward. When the English text emerges against this harmonic backdrop, the effect is both intimate and grand, as if the singers are inviting the audience into a philosophical conversation about living fully.

This octavo works well for concert choirs, madrigal ensembles, and advanced high school or collegiate singers comfortable with minor-key harmonies and text in two languages. The 16-page score and PerformancePlus+ resources make it accessible for directors seeking a concert-quality piece with robust rehearsal support.

• Balance the treble and lower voices carefully through the Latin phrases; the Baroque texture requires clarity rather than blend, so each voice line should register distinctly.
• Use the part-predominant tracks during sectional rehearsals to lock individual lines before bringing voices together.
• Shape the English text sections with natural speech rhythms to prevent them from sounding overwrought; let the meaning of the words guide your phrasing.
• The recorded accompaniment can anchor your tempo choices during early rehearsals, but consider finding your own interpretive tempo once the piece is secure.

Program this as a concert opener to set a sophisticated tone for the evening, or reserve it as a closing number to leave the audience in a reflective state. Its distinctive character makes it an excellent feature for a madrigal choir concert or a centerpiece in a program exploring the intersection of sacred musical language and secular themes.

• Reading and sustaining minor-key harmonic progressions with Baroque voice-leading
• Code-switching between Latin and English text with appropriate stylistic inflection
• Balancing independent melodic lines in homophonic texture
• Interpreting performance cues and text expression in PerformancePlus+ interactive tools