Philip Lawson is a respected choral arranger whose work spans both classical and contemporary idioms. His arrangements demonstrate a keen understanding of how to make historical vocal literature accessible to modern ensembles without sacrificing musical integrity.
Why we love this
Lawson's arrangements preserve the madrigal tradition's essential character while making it genuinely singable for developing choirs. Two-part voicing allows singers to engage with sophisticated harmonic language and text painting without the complexity of four or five-part writing, making this perfect for building musicianship before tackling full Renaissance works.
What to expect
These madrigals evoke the charm and sophistication of Renaissance England, with text clearly driving the musical ideas. Singing them creates an intimate and conversational quality, as though the two voices are having a musical dialogue about the poetry.
Who it's for
Choirs at the middle school through adult community level who want to explore English vocal literature with voicing that's manageable but musically substantial. Directors looking to introduce madrigal style and polyphonic thinking without the density of larger ensemble arrangements will find this collection ideal.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the phrases by listening to the text; English madrigals were written to highlight word meaning, so let the poetry guide your dynamic contours and phrasing decisions.
Approach the harmonic progressions with care, especially where voice leading creates surprising sonorities. These moments need clarity and intentionality rather than rushing through.
Balance the two parts so that neither overwhelms the other. Madrigals thrive when both voices have equal presence and independence.
Experiment with slight rubato in the cadences to allow the text to land naturally; this period style benefits from small rhythmic flexibility at phrase endings.
How to use it
Pair this collection with other madrigals or Renaissance repertoire to create a thematic concert segment, or program individual madrigals as concert openers that establish an elegant, lyrical tone for your event. The shorter length and accessible voicing also make these valuable for community sings or informal performance settings where less rehearsal time is available.
Skills your students will build
Renaissance text painting and expressive interpretation
Independent singing in two-part polyphony
Harmonic listening and voice leading awareness
Diction and articulation in English madrigal style
Phrase shaping based on poetic content
You May Also Like
Scan to Complete Your Purchase
Use your phone's camera to scan the code below
You'll log in on your phone and the order will be added to your account
