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Though Philomela Lost Her Love: SSA Choral Octavo

$1.80 USD

Though Philomela Lost Her Love: SSA Choral Octavo

Name: Though Philomela Lost Her Love: SSA Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-34781
Price: 1.80 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Thomas Morley / ed. and arr. Patrick M. Liebergen

Item: 00-34781

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This well-prepared edition of Thomas Morley's 16th century madrigal may be performed a cappella or with the supportive keyboard accompaniment. Resounding homophonic phrases alternate with "fa la la" polyphony and are repeated at a softer dynamic. Solid repertoire for SSA choirs. Featured on PianoTrax 3 Accompaniment CD (00-34744).

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081385075

SKU: 00-34781

More about this title

About the Composer: Thomas Morley

Thomas Morley (c. 1557-1602) was the most prolific English composer of the late Tudor era and a master of the madrigal genre. He served as organist at St. Paul's Cathedral in London and published extensive collections of vocal music that shaped English musical taste at the turn of the 17th century.

Morely's madrigals are characterized by expressive word-painting, rhythmic vitality, and a gift for memorable melodic lines. His influence extended beyond his lifetime; composers throughout the Baroque period drew on the textural and harmonic innovations he pioneered in secular vocal music.

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Why we love this

This edition captures the playful sophistication of Renaissance madrigal writing without overwhelming developing singers. Patrick Liebergen's preparation balances the piece's two contrasting textures (the sturdy homophonic sections and the fleet "fa la la" passages) in ways that reveal compositional intent while remaining accessible to SSA ensembles. It's a genuine historical work, not a pastiche, and your singers will feel the difference between performing an arrangement and performing real Renaissance music.

What to expect

This madrigal balances sprightly wit with genuine lyric beauty. The alternation between solid homophonic declarations and the dance-like "fa la la" refrains creates a sense of conversation between two musical personalities, inviting singers to inhabit both the earnest and the playful.

Who it's for

SSA choirs at the high school through adult community level will find this madrigal approachable and musically rewarding. It serves singers ready to engage with Renaissance repertoire and directors building a choral program that honors both accessibility and historical substance.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the homophonic phrases with gentle dynamic contours; these sections should feel grounded and resonant without becoming static.
Bring clarity and forward motion to the "fa la la" polyphonic sections, treating them as textural relief rather than comic relief.
When singing a cappella, maintain consistent intonation by anchoring on the root position triads that support the harmonic structure.
Use the keyboard accompaniment (when available) to establish harmonic security during the polyphonic passages while allowing voices to bloom independently.

How to use it

Program this as a bridge between modern choral music and early music on a concert that needs historical depth without scholarly density. It pairs naturally with other Renaissance secular works or can anchor a thematic program exploring how composers across centuries have set poetry about loss and love.