Harmer, Will: Three Madrigals
From: £4.25
SATB unaccompanied (with divisions)
The Three Madrigals by Will Harmer announce a fresh new sound in British choral music. They are written by an experienced young singer also gifted with a rare talent to enliven words with buoyant rhythm and melody. He has caught the spirit and poetry of the Tudor madrigal school in these pieces: the vitality of Morley in the pulsing syncopations of ‘Spring in all her glory’, the passion of Wilbye in the rapt expression of ‘Sweet eyes’, and the energy of Weelkes in the dancing beat of ‘Sing we at pleasure’. Perfect for mixed historical programmes and a great match with other contemporary styles, they will bring joy alike to lovers of Renaissance and modern music.
The writing is diverse… sometimes catchy, sometimes intimate and sometimes vigorous, the music imaginatively reinvents tradition. – planethugill.com
Deft settings of Renaissance madrigals … very accomplished. – BBC Music Magazine
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From the composer:
‘I love the concept of a madrigal, a choral song usually written for an intimate setting, with music and celebration at its centre. This spirit imbues my Three Madrigals, which all use words from existing madrigal collections, but each being given its own contemporary slant in the music.
‘Spring in all her glory’ celebrates the wonder of the season, a time of hope after winter’s darkness. I was stimulated by the rich imagery in the poem, of frozen streams thawing, and of creation smiling and flowers blooming.
‘Sweet eyes’ plays on the theme of longing, and how difficult it is to be separated from someone you love. It is the most reflective and calming of the three pieces, and is influenced by folk and pop music as well as madrigal style.
The words of ‘Sing we at pleasure’ inspired me with their spirit of revelry and fun, particularly in the version composed by Thomas Weelkes. I put my own twist on this classic text by using 7/8 metre to unsettle the natural rhythm of the poetry, with some quirky harmonies in the middle section.’
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