Sonnet

Shakespeare (E)

Choral level of difficulty: 1 (5 greatest)

MacMillan’s use of simple means in these Strathclyde Motets accentuates the atmospheres or moods he sets up. These in turn wonderfully highlight the words he is setting. In Sedebit Dominus Rex, a motet for a major Feast Day, the joy of the opening is achieved principally through the ‘decorated’ soprano line which, as so often in his music, harks back to the influence of ancient Celtic music. It is the marriage of ancient and modern in MacMillan’s music which is part of what makes it so irresistible. The quite end before the da capo is simply magical and a choir master’s energies are going to be focused much more on quality of sound than problems of note-learning.


Repertoire Note by Paul Spicer