Come, Let's Begin: SAB Choral Octavo

John Leavitt's SAB arrangement makes Weelkes' sophisticated counterpoint and harmonic language accessible to mixed choirs without condescending to the material. The piece brings authentic Renaissance character into rehearsal while remaining genuinely singable for developing ensembles.

Spirited and intellectually engaging, with moments of unexpected harmonic warmth beneath a brisk, forward-moving surface. The text animates the music throughout, creating a sense of invitation and immediacy that makes performers feel they are part of an active conversation rather than performing museum pieces.

Mixed choirs developing Renaissance repertoire literacy will find this arrangement an excellent stepping stone to Weelkes' full catalog. Advanced high school choirs and community ensembles benefit from material that rewards careful musical attention without overwhelming limited rehearsal time.

• Shape the opening phrase without excessive vibrato; let the clarity of Weelkes' text-painting emerge through pure vowels and precise articulation.
• Balance inner parts carefully during the contrapuntal sections. Sopranos and altos weave together frequently, so rehearse them as a unit before bringing in the bass line.
• Attend to the harmonic rhythm. Weelkes changes harmonies deliberately at key textual moments; rushing obscures his compositional intention.

Pair this with other Renaissance secular works to create a program section that explores how composers used form and harmony to serve text meaning. Its length and moderate difficulty make it ideal as a concert opener that sets a sophisticated but approachable tone.

• Renaissance harmonic language and chromaticism
• Part independence and inner voice awareness
• Text expression through musical gesture
• Period-appropriate articulation and vowel production