I syng of a mayden, performance materials + license

Quick summary

• Forces: SSAATB
• Duration: c. 4′40"
• Difficulty: advanced
• Occasions: Christmas, Feast of the Annunciation
• Text: Anon, 15th century (British Library MS Sloane 2593)
• Language: Middle English
• Date of composition: 2015; revised 2024
• Premiere: Reading Choral Society (dir. Graham Bier), WA, USA, 2015

Licenses include the appropriate number of print-outs for the specified ensemble size, and are valid for unlimited performances by the same ensemble. Please choose the appropriate license for your choir size.

Performance materials include two copies of the full score – one with and one without a piano reduction.

Detailed info

I syng of a mayden is a joyful, harmonically rich, and slightly dreamy setting of the 15th-century Middle English lyric I syng of a mayden þat is makeles (British Library Sloane MS 2593, ff.10v–11), celebrating the Annunciation and birth of Jesus.

Although mostly lyrical, with predominantly conjunct melodic movement and phrasing derived from natural speech rhythms, this is nonetheless a challenging piece with chromatic close harmonies, tricky Middle English pronunciation, and some intense polyphony (including sections with fully independent divided sopranos and altos), which makes use of the full range of choral soprano and bass registers. 

It is suitable for professional and advanced college choirs, as well as leisure-time groups who relish a challenge and have time to practise, as well as or in addition to good score-reading ability.