What Sweeter Musick
4-Part - Sheet Music

SATB choir, Organ - Medium

SKU: PL.8903

Composed by William Bradley Roberts. Choral, Christmas. Octavo. Paraclete Press #8903. Published by Paraclete Press (PL.8903).

Robert Herrick's delightful Christmas poem is a gem which has unaccountably escaped wider notice by composers. This light and tuneful setting makes use of unison sections for SA and TB, and the full sections are effective without being difficult. The organ accompaniment features solo lines over ostinato figures to good effect, again without difficulty.

This is a magnificent Christmas anthem from the heart of Bill Roberts, set for mezzo-soprano solo and four-part chorus. His sensitivity to this beautiful text is the work of a real artist. Although there is some unison singing, the choral parts would take serious work to refine the rhythm of the text and the hauntingly beautiful harmony. I pull this piece out each Christmas, even when my choir doesn't sing it, because I love it so; it is a work of incredible beauty. - Marilyn Keiser "AAM Journal" April 2005
While there are several wonderful settings of Robert Herrick's beautiful Christmas poem, "What Sweeter Musick", Bill has given us another setting that far excels many of the others. The composer approaches the poem in a sensitive and almost mystical manner.... - Dr. Donald R. Cox "AAM Journal" April 2005.