Rules For Behaviour, 1787: SATB Choral Octavo

Mechem's arrangement of this 1787 text transforms an 18th-century conduct manual into something genuinely engaging for modern singers. The piece carries a dry wit beneath its surface, making it a conversation starter at festival or concert that rewards attentive listening without requiring the audience to work too hard to enjoy it.

Charming and slightly mischievous, like eavesdropping on a particularly witty 18th-century etiquette lesson. The music sits comfortably in the voice while maintaining enough harmonic interest to keep both singers and listeners engaged throughout.

Concert and festival choirs looking for a secular piece with character and substance. The work suits advanced high school choirs and college ensembles equally well, and it works especially nicely for groups that value text clarity and musical sophistication in equal measure.

• Shape the text with clarity above all else. The humor and charm of 'Rules For Behaviour' rests on singers delivering the words crisply and with intention, so articulation and diction matter more than sustain.
• Balance the voices so that the text remains audible even in full four-part texture. Sopranos and tenors should not dominate simply because they sit higher.
• Find the conversational tone. These are rules, yes, but deliver them as someone sharing insider advice, not proclamations from on high.

Pair this with other secular choral works from the 18th century or with contemporary pieces that share its lighter character. It makes an excellent opener for a concert or a palate cleanser between weightier works, and it gives audiences permission to smile.

• Text clarity and articulation in SATB texture
• Maintaining conversational phrasing in a cappella singing
• Balancing ensemble voices to serve the text
• Intonation in chromatic or unexpected harmonic moments