Like as the Waves

Description

Subtle syllabic setting of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 60, Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore…, conceived as a straightforward yet heartfelt recitation of the text, musically enhanced by melodic and harmonic intensification of its natural speech contours, pauses, stresses, and vocal colours, conveying Shakespeare’s profound reflection on the bittersweet inevitability of love’s transformation into loss. Suitable for professional ensembles and leisure-time choirs with score-reading ability and/or time to practise learning parts by ear. Divisi is minimal and demands no rhythmic independence within parts. Although this is a short, rhythmically straightforward piece, without extensive textural complexity, the tuning of its sometimes colourful, chromatic harmonies presents a bit of a challenge.

The Crucial Info

Forces: SSAATB (minimal divisi)
Duration: c. 4′
Texts: Sonnet 60 by William Shakespeare
Date of composition: 2016
Premiere: York Madrigal Singers, York Late Music Festival, 2016.

Listen

Midi demo (no one likes midi, but it’s better than nothing):

Perusal Score

DOWNLOAD PERUSAL COPY HERE

Text

Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore,

So do our minutes hasten to their end;

Each changing place with that which goes before,

In sequent toil all forwards do contend.

Nativity, once in the main of light,

Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d,

Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight,

And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.

Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth

And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow,

Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth,

And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:

And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,

Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.

Please contact Stef for more information and/or a license to perform this piece.