12001 – This Sweet and Merry Month

William Byrd (1543-1623)

Arranged by Roger Harvey for 4-12 trombones

Difficulty: Medium

Price: £20.00

Programme notes:

This sweet and merry month of May,

While nature wantons in her prime,

And birds do sing, and beasts do play

For pleasure of the joyful time,

I choose the first for holiday

And greet Eliza with a rhyme:

O beauteous Queen of second Troy,

Take well in worth a simple toy.

This madrigal was first printed in ‘Italian Madrigals Englished’ in 1590. This Italian form of popular choral music, which had become so much part of English musical life, was now, evident from the title of the collection, finding its own champions in England. This example by Byrd shows the typical Italian characteristics of imitative counterpoint, word painting and changes of mood and metre as well as incorporating his own masterful harmonic patterns.

This arrangement of the 4 part madrigal is for a choir of trombones and was made for the trombone choir of Trinity College of Music, London.

Performance notes:

This arrangement can be performed by between 4 and 12 trombones. While it is essentially a 4-part piece shared between 12 voices the cued parts in voices 1-4 can be played if fewer instruments are available.

Take account of the articulation markings in order to give varied mix of styles within the piece. The suggested dynamics will also give some shape and personality to the performance. At all times, even in the louder dynamics, make sure that the overall sound is light in texture.