Come Live with Me and Be My Love: SSAB Choral Octavo
Words by Christopher Marlowe, music by Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0000567
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This sensitive setting of Christopher Marlowe's romantic poetry is an especially artistic choice. Lyrical choral writing is beautifully balanced with a lush piano accompaniment, creating a work that is a joy to sing, play, and conduct. Distinctive concert or festival repertoire.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0000567
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin combines deep experience as a choral conductor and composer with an ear for what works in ensemble settings. His compositions have been performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Sydney Opera House, and his arrangements appear regularly in festival and competition programs across the country. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, he understands the needs of school and community choirs at every level.
Beyond the music world, Gilpin has expanded his professional practice into organizational consulting and producing, work that has brought him appearances on national television. He holds membership in ACDA, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and continues to compose, conduct, and mentor musicians as the field rebuilds.
Why we love this
Gilpin's setting respects Marlowe's text while creating music that feels conversational and intimate rather than overly precious. The balance between treble and lower voices is genuinely singable, and the piano writing adds sophistication without overwhelming an SSAB ensemble. This works equally well as a festival selection or a concert piece that opens real conversation about text and meaning.
What to expect
The music unfolds with gentle lyricism, honoring both the romance and the formality of Marlowe's invitation. Warm harmonies and flowing melodic lines create an atmosphere of earnest intimacy; this is a piece that feels both classical in its sensibility and accessible in its expression.
Who it's for
This piece suits intermediate to advanced SSAB ensembles, particularly those looking for artistically substantive secular repertoire for festival or concert programming. Directors seeking music that engages singers' musicality and respect for text will find this especially rewarding.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the phrases according to the natural cadences of Marlowe's language; let the words breathe rather than pushing for constant forward motion.
- Work the piano and choir together from the start. The accompaniment isn't decoration; it's part of how the music unfolds.
- Balance the treble line carefully in sections where it carries the melody; these voices should sing with clarity without drowning the harmonic support beneath them.
How to use it
Program this alongside other Renaissance-era texts or as a standalone concert piece that demonstrates your choir's ability to handle art song literature. Its intimate scale makes it an ideal selection for small festival competitions or chamber-style performances where emotional nuance matters as much as technical display.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing based on textual meaning and poetic structure
- Blending treble and lower voices in SSAB voicing
- Responding to and shaping the accompaniment
- Lyrical legit singing with consistent tone