Octavo of the Month (April 2007)
Mike Walag, ICDA High School R&S Chair
Come Again, Sweet Love
John Dowland
Arr. Doug Andrews
National Music Publishers
SATB, piano
NMP-368
2’50”
Easy
This is a re-make of a favorite secular Renaissance piece by John Dowland. Harmonies have been comtemporized (added 7ths etc.), but not offensively so. The piano accompaniment actually adds a lot of vitality and forward drive to this previously a cappella piece.
The signature call and response pattern between the sopranos and the rest of the choir was fortunately maintained, i.e. to see, to hear, to touch, to kiss, to die…….
The last verse modulates up a whole step (what else would you expect from the contemporary pop idiom?) and features an optional soprano and tenor solo opportunity. All in all, it’s a very interesting piece with a lot of student appeal. It also lends itself to some expressive and dynamic contrasts. This is a good piece for introducing young singers to 4-part choral music, and a choral classic as well.