The Turtle Dove: SATB Choral Octavo
English Folk Song / arr. Victor C. Johnson
Item: 00-PO-0006434
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A solemn reflection on parting with the promise to return: these feelings are beautifully expressed in this sensitive arrangement of the 18th-century English folk ballad. An optional cello part dives and soars alongside the voices and piano, offering musical commentary throughout, while the arranger's careful attention to word stress underscores layers of deeper meaning. Extraordinary choral repertoire that will last for years in your library.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006434
More about this title
About the Arranger: Victor C. Johnson
Victor C. Johnson has established himself as one of the most prolific voices in choral music, with over 500 compositions and arrangements currently in print. Based in Dallas, Texas, he served as choral director at Ft. Worth Academy of Fine Arts from 2000 to 2018, where he built programs across multiple ensembles including the Academy Singers, Academy Men's Choir, Singing Girls of Texas, and Children's Choir of Texas.
Today, Johnson holds the position of School Choral Editor for Sing!, the educational division of Choristers Guild, and serves as conductor of the Dallas Symphony Children's Chorus Mixed Ensemble (grades 9-12). His deep involvement in music education extends through memberships in the American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and other professional organizations.
Why we love this
Johnson's arrangement honors the emotional weight of this folk ballad while making it technically and musically rewarding for singers at the SATB level. His treatment of text underscores the deeper layers of meaning in the lyrics, transforming a traditional melody into something that feels both reverent and fresh. The optional cello part lifts the arrangement beyond standard choral fare, offering directors a way to deepen the work for concert or contest performance without complicating the vocal writing.
What to expect
A moment of quiet heartbreak held with grace. The arrangement wraps the 18th-century melody in modern harmonic warmth, allowing the text about parting and promised return to resonate with intimacy. The cello writing adds layers of reflection, as if the instruments are speaking the feelings the singers cannot quite voice alone.
Who it's for
High school and college choirs seeking repertoire with genuine emotional depth and compositional craft. Directors preparing for concert performances or festival competitions will find this arrangement offers singers something substantial to sink their teeth into without requiring advanced technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the piano and optional cello parts as equal conversationalists with the voices rather than accompaniment alone; this counterpoint demands careful balance in rehearsal.
- Attend closely to Johnson's text stress markings, which often sit against natural speech patterns and require intentional diction to land their effect.
- Take the slower tempo as an invitation to explore space and silence between phrases; resist the urge to push forward.
- If performing with cello, ensure the player has time to absorb the optional part before full ensemble rehearsals begin.
How to use it
Pair this with other folk-inspired works to create a concert section on tradition and continuity, or open a program with it to establish a contemplative tone. At festivals, its lyrical restraint and careful craftsmanship distinguish it from more extroverted contest fare, making it an excellent choice for adjudication.
Skills your students will build
- Nuanced text expression and attention to word stress in shaping musical meaning
- Balancing independent voice lines with sustained harmonic blending
- Ensemble coordination with optional instrumental parts
- Sustaining emotional focus and phrasing through slower tempi