Rise Up in Merry Measure: SSA Choral Octavo

$1.90 USD

Rise Up in Merry Measure: SSA Choral Octavo

Name: Rise Up in Merry Measure: SSA Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-46348
Price: 1.90 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Guillaume Costeley / ed. and arr., with new words, by Patrick M. Liebergen

Item: 00-46348

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$1.90

Shipped

One moment…

Enjoy this lighthearted Renaissance-era madrigal highlighting resonant treble sonorities, terraced dynamics, and accessible homophonic voice parts. Consider adding the optional piano accompaniment, optional hand drum part, or perform entirely a cappella.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Rise Up in Merry Measure: SSA Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081527277

SKU: 00-46348

Instrumentation: Opt. Piano or Hand Drum

More about this title

About the Composer: Guillaume Costeley

Guillaume Costeley (1531-1606) was a Franco-Flemish composer and singer at the court of the Valois kings. He published numerous chansons and madrigals that shaped the lighter, more theatrical side of Renaissance vocal music, moving away from the strictly polyphonic traditions toward works that prioritized text declamation and dramatic clarity.

Costeley's madrigals remain valuable teaching repertoire because they demonstrate how composers of his era balanced structural sophistication with accessibility. His music shows singers how Renaissance composers crafted pieces that could engage listeners through melody and humor while maintaining musical integrity.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

This arrangement strips away unnecessary complexity while preserving the charm that made Costeley's madrigals popular across the Renaissance courts. The terraced dynamics and homophonic moments give young singers clear opportunities to shape phrases, and the optional instrumentation means you can perform it exactly as your ensemble needs it on any given day.

What to expect

This madrigal radiates the kind of refined gaiety you find in court entertainments. The interplay between the three voices creates a conversational, almost theatrical quality, with moments of homophonic warmth breaking into more ornamental passages that keep listeners engaged without overwhelming them.

Who it's for

SSA choirs at the middle school through early college level will find this piece approachable without being simplistic. Directors building festival or contest programs benefit from a madrigal that requires musicality and attention to text but doesn't demand advanced vocal technique.

How to get the most out of it

Clarify the text declamation by rehearsing words separately from pitches; Renaissance madrigals live or die by how naturally the poetry lands on the ear.
Use the terraced dynamics marked in the score as structural markers rather than automatic swells. Let each dynamic level sit for a full phrase before shifting.
If adding the piano or hand drum, rehearse the piece a cappella first so singers own the harmonic progressions without relying on instrumental support.
Maintain lightness in the upper voices even when singing at fuller dynamic levels; the SSA sonority works best when sopranos and altos remain transparent.

How to use it

Pair this with other secular Renaissance works to build a concert section that showcases how madrigals evolved from strict polyphony toward more expressive, character-driven writing. Its brevity and optional accompaniment make it ideal for festival competitions or as an opener to a longer concert that explores courtly vocal traditions.