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If Music Be the Food of Love: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.25 USD

If Music Be the Food of Love: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: If Music Be the Food of Love: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-LG53062
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

By Michael Larkin

Level: Moderate

Item: 00-LG53062

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This well-known text has been set to music many times. Here Michael Larkin gives us a tender and lovely musical approach to bring this exceptional text alive. A wonderful addition to choral concert repertoire.

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Lawson-Gould Music Publishers

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 654979063766

SKU: 00-LG53062

More about this title

About the Composer: Michael Larkin

Michael Larkin spent nearly three decades leading the Vocal/Choral Department at the Music School of Delaware, where he also taught voice as an artist faculty member. Beyond the classroom, he founded and directs the New Ark Chorale, a leading ensemble in the Delaware Valley, and serves as both conductor and music director of the Brandywine Pops Orchestra while maintaining his role as Director of Music Ministry at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Wilmington.

Larkin's output as a composer is prolific: over 300 works for chorus, voice, piano, and orchestra are published with major houses across the country. He remains active as a baritone soloist, guest conductor, and clinician at regional and national music festivals.

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Why we love this

Larkin's setting respects the gravitas of Shakespeare's opening line while remaining approachable for moderate ensembles. The musicality unfolds naturally from the text rather than imposing complexity, making it a program piece that sounds polished without demanding excessive rehearsal time.

What to expect

Tender and reflective, this setting draws out the philosophical weight of Shakespeare's famous words without resorting to drama or excess. The music unfolds with genuine warmth, inviting singers and listeners into an intimate musical conversation about love and music's power.

Who it's for

This piece fits well into the repertoire of high school and community choirs seeking material that bridges accessibility and artistic integrity. The moderate difficulty level makes it achievable for developing ensembles while the poetic text appeals to singers who want substance in what they perform.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the upper voices carefully in moments where they sustain while lower voices move; the text clarity depends on the sopranos and altos sitting lightly.
Let the tenderness emerge through legit phrasing rather than oversinging; this text deserves restraint and genuine vocal line.
Attend to the harmonic rhythm and allow it to breathe; resist the urge to push through phrase endings.

How to use it

Consider programming this as a moment of contrast on a concert that includes larger or more energetic works; its quieter introspection will create welcome breathing room. The eight-page format makes it manageable for programs built around a literary or thematic concept.