Sing We and Chant It: SSA, a cappella Choral Octavo

Name: Sing We and Chant It: SSA, a cappella Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-OCT9713
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

Text by Michael Drayton, music by Thomas Morley / ed. and arr. Donald Moore

Item: 00-OCT9713

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Donald Moore delivers a fresh new setting of this, the most famous of Thomas Morley's madrigals. Written in SSA or TTB editions to be performed by either your men's or women's ensembles, the arrangements are easy to sing, yet sound delightful. Add some variety to any concert with this one!

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

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Belwin Festival Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 4

UPC: 029156604771

SKU: 00-OCT9713

More about this title

About the Composer: Thomas Morley

Thomas Morley (1557-1602) was among the most prolific and inventive English composers of the Renaissance, best known for his secular vocal music and his influential treatise on composition. His madrigals, particularly those written in the 1590s, became the standard by which English madrigals were measured. Morley excelled at setting English texts with wit and musical sophistication, blending Italian madrigal traditions with distinctly English melodic sensibilities.

Beyond composition, Morley shaped music education through his writings on counterpoint and performance practice. His madrigals remain cornerstones of choral literature, prized for their expressive text-painting and the way they challenge singers to balance technical demands with clear communication of meaning.

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Why we love this

Donald Moore's arrangement preserves the madrigal's character while making it genuinely accessible for SSA ensembles. The piece works as both a concert opener that catches immediate attention and a festival entry that holds up under adjudication. Few Renaissance works offer this combination of sophistication and ease.

What to expect

A burst of Renaissance joy delivered in a compact form. The piece sparkles with the playfulness of a madrigal text set to music that makes words dance. Singers experience the satisfaction of sounding polished and coordinated after relatively modest technical preparation.

Who it's for

Women's and girls' choirs looking for early music that sounds impressive without requiring extensive rehearsal time. This arrangement suits ensembles at the intermediate level and above, whether preparing for festival performance or adding stylistic variety to a concert program.

How to get the most out of it

Shape phrases through text, not just musical line. Let the words "sing we and chant it" propel the opening gesture forward with natural speech rhythm beneath the melody.
Blend the three voices so that no part dominates; the beauty lies in the collective sound rather than soloistic display.
Keep the tempo brisk enough to maintain the song's light character, but not so fast that diction becomes muddy.
Balance a cappella singing with careful attention to intonation, especially in sustained harmonic moments where tuning can drift without accompaniment.

How to use it

Program this early in a concert to energize the audience and showcase your ensemble's clarity and blend. It pairs naturally with other secular choral works from the Renaissance or with a modern piece that shares similar texture and lightness. The four-page length makes it an ideal addition to a festival set where you want impact without overwhelming your program.