How Sweet The Moonlight
by Z. Randall Stroope
A Cappella - Sheet Music

SSATBB choir a cappella (SSATBB choir a cappella)

SKU: AN.AMP-1000

Composed by Z. Randall Stroope. Octavo. Alliance Music Publications #AMP 1000. Published by Alliance Music Publications (AN.AMP-1000).

Stroope.

William Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice (Act 5, Scene 1) between1596 and 1598. He weaves two ancient folk tales into a universal story involvingthe strong pull or polarity between the surface attractiveness that human beingshave to money and accumulation of fleshly goods, and that of the moral andreligious qualities of compassion, mercy and love - things beneath the fleshlysurface and far less visible.

Performance notes include the need for singers to be cognizant of the subtledynamic rhythm of the work and the connectivity of one note to the next. In otherwords, there is rhythmic or movement in subtle dynamic changes andintensification of the line. Tension and release can be created not only in the flow ofthe text and written rhythmic values, but even more effectively in the rhythm ofdynamics. One might think of it as spontaneous sonic combustion - each noteexcites the next in a gentle, yet intense connection of the whole.

Secondly, the opening section has a gentle, descending melodic line, as if the moon isin quiet motion. Singers will need to both take care in intonation as the notesdescend, while at the same time intensifying the third beat of each measure so that itleads to the next measure. (The last beat of a measure often determines the fateof a musical performance.)

Finally, the two outer voices (soprano 1 and bass 2) need to be especially cognizantof pitch definition and clarity, and will benefit by a rich, but transparent sound. Agood friend of mine once told me, &ldquolthe most important things in life are said softly.Quiet, sincere conversation is warm in color, and not cluttered with excess - theutterance of the voice being half-way between the mind and the heart.