Madrigal

This lighthearted part-song was composed by Gabriel Faure in 1883 as a wedding gift to his friend and former student, the composer and conductor Andre Messager. Given the nature of the text, we must assume the gift was in jest. The title, "Madrigal", is curious, for the piece is not at all a madrigal in the traditional sense. While it does involve some straightforward counterpoint, it is, atypically for a madrigal, accompanied and suffused with romantic harmony. The accompaniment in this arrangement is scored for piano plus either violin/cello duet, or clarinet trio (two B-flat plus bass clarinet). This can also be performed with piano alone using the rehearsal score. The printed set includes 10 copies of the choir parts, with additional copies available upon request.