Gathering Roses in Winter - Madison Youth Choirs

Josquin’s most famous frottola (a precursor to the madrigal) is a charming example ofmusical puns: the long bass note on “hold a long note,” and the alternating high andlow voices, the large leaps, and the fast patter, all of which imitate the squeaking of thecricket. “Per amore” (for love) receives a flourish of vocal melisma. Even withoutunderstanding this saucy Italian text, the sheer sound of the vocal texture delights theear.MADISON BOYCHOIRPalomita(sung in Spanish)Akornefa Akyea, fluteTraditional Lament from PeruArranged by Randal SwiggumLittle dove, where are you? Because I am looking for you.Lonely, perhaps you cry, without a way to come back.My dove, I’ve lost you. I don’t know where you went.Desolate, I search for you, perhaps never to find you.A poignant melody which captures the melancholy and desolation of the text, Palomitahas been a favorite of the boychoir since we started learning it at Fall Camp. The flutepart is reminiscent of a lonely Andean panpipe player.Johnnie CopeKen JohnstonThe subject of this text is Sir John Cope (d. 1760), commander in chief of the Englisharmy defeated by Bonnie Prince Charlie of Scotland at the Battle of Prestonpans, 22September 1745. According to legend, Cope secretly deserted his troops the nightbefore the battle and has been “skeired”(mocked) in this famous poem ever since. Thepoem, well-known by Scottish schoolchildren, was composed by a literate farmer,Adam Skirving, whose fields were trampled in the battle. The martial music, with itsfanfares and marching beat, was composed by Scottish composer Ken Johnston for theNational Youth Choir of Scotland in 2001. Learning to sing the piece in Scots was awelcome challenge for the boychoir. “Hey, Johnnie, are ye waukin’ yet?” means “Areyou awake yet?”