If Music Be the Food of Love: SATB Choral Octavo
Music by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0002219
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Inspired by the writing of William Shakespeare, If Music Be the Food of Love is a stunning contemporary choral that will move the musicianship of your seasoned choir to a new level. It opens expressively, with an artful solo, and builds to a breathtaking climax reminiscent of the finest operatic writing. Your accompanist will love playing the piano part, and your choir will cherish the soaring vocal lines. An unforgettable piece for concerts, contests, and festivals.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0002219
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs the choral publications program at Alfred Music, where he has cultivated a catalog of over 450 choral works, vocal resources, and children's musicals. His compositions and arrangements are performed by singers across the globe, and his pedagogical resources including Sing at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique have become staples in choral programs. Beck holds degrees in music education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University.
Beyond his publishing leadership, Beck actively engages with the choral community as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. He has been commissioned to conduct and compose for honor choirs throughout the Southeast, including multiple all-state ensembles. As a tenor performer, Beck maintains an active involvement in musical theatre and chamber choral singing while continuing his work as a studio vocalist for Alfred Music since 1992.
Why we love this
Beck's gift for writing vocal lines that soar without becoming inaccessible shines in this piece. The opening solo and architectural rise toward the operatic climax give your choir a genuine interpretive challenge worthy of contest or festival judging, while the thoughtful piano accompaniment keeps rehearsals engaging and musical from start to finish.
What to expect
The piece opens with intimate vulnerability, drawing listeners close through an expressive solo voice. As additional parts enter and the harmonic language expands, tension builds steadily toward a climactic moment that echoes the dramatic sweep of operatic writing, leaving audiences deeply moved.
Who it's for
This piece is designed for choirs with solid musicianship and interpretive maturity. If your group has experience with contemporary harmonic language and can hold ensemble blend through dynamic growth, they have the skills to bring this work to life.
How to get the most out of it
- Invest rehearsal time in the expressive opening solo. Whether you feature a strong section member or rotate singers through it, the character set here will determine how your audience receives everything that follows.
- Balance the dynamic architecture carefully as the piece builds. Mark internal phrase peaks and release points so the climax feels earned, not simply loud.
- Work with your accompanist on the interplay between vocal lines and piano textures. Beck's writing creates genuine dialogue; the most compelling performances treat them as equal partners.
How to use it
Program this as a concert anchor or festival highlight. Its dramatic arc and contemporary sophistication position it well on a program with other modern choral works, and it reads fresh enough to earn recognition in competitive settings while remaining accessible to audiences unfamiliar with cutting-edge choral repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained phrasing and breath management across long vocal lines
- Blend and balance in contemporary harmonic contexts
- Dynamic control and architecture in building toward climactic moments
- Interpretive choices in expressive solo passage work