John Leavitt : Fa Una Canzona

Edited and arranged by John Leavitt, this well-known Italian madrigal is offered in two voicings, enabling singers to be successful, while staying true to the stylistic period.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Orazio Vecchi

The expressiveness of the Renaissance is richly portrayed in this new edition of the classic masterwork by Palestrina. An excellent choice for beginning and developing SATB ensembles.Available separately: SATB, TTBB. Duration: ca. 1:15.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

This masterwork from Hassler's Missa Secunda is ideal for developing the representative style qualities of the era. Excellent for contest and concert!Available separately: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 3:00

Arranger: John Leavitt

Hans Leo Hassler (1562-1612) was a prolific German composer who studied in Italy with Andrea Gabrieli. All Lust und Freud is a splendid example of secular German part-song fashioned after the Italian madrigal of the High Renaissance. Ideal for contest and festival! Duration: ca. 3:00

Composer: Hans Leo Hassler

Treble choruses can experience Baroque style and performance practice in this setting from Bach's Motet VI. Performed a cappella or with the continuo accompaniment, it will make a fine addition to honor choir or festival concerts. Duration: ca. 2:15.

Arranger: Russell Robinson

Here is the famous madrigal by Thomas Morley in a new performing edition. Ideal for chamber, madrigal and concert choirs, this gentle work offers superb opportunities for developing style, intonation and blend.Available separately: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 1:30.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Thomas Morley

Attributed to the Franco-Flemish Renaissance composer Jacob Arcadelt, this edition for men's voices will be a joy to rehearse and perform. Duration: ca. 1:30.

Arranger: John Leavitt

This edition by Matthew Michaels adds contemporary markings for dynamics and other musical elements. Well-thought out, this is a welcome addition to contest repertoire. Available separately: SATB a cappella.

Arranger: Matthew Michaels | Composer: William Byrd

This playful French chanson by di Lasso is delightful! Easily learned and effective in performance! Also includes an English text. Performance Time: Approx. 1:00

Composer: Orlando Lassus

This delightful Italian madrigal will be a charming addition to any concert with imitative vocal phrases alternating with homophonic sections and culminating in a dancelike ton dari don ton ton refrain. Duration: ca. 1:20.

Composer: Antonio Scandello

Arranger: John Leavitt

From a 1604 publication, this delightful five-voice madrigal offers challenges and rewards. Echo effects and musical imagery of running in and out make this especially fun to rehearse and perform! Duration: ca. 1:35

Composer: Thomas Greaves

This beautiful Romantic partsong for male voices is offered in a new Choral Treasury edition featuring both the German text and an English translation by Dr. Leavitt. Available: TTBB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 1:45.

Arranger: John Leavitt

A superb edition of this famous motet! Available: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 2:35.

Arranger: John Leavitt

Featuring canonic imitation, vocal ostinati, and delicately intertwining melodies, this a cappella setting is stunning.

Arranger: Matthew Michaels | Composer: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Heinrich Schütz was one of the great German masters of vocal music, serving as a bridge between the early contrapuntal school of Palestrina and the later contrapuntal school of Bach and Handel. This motet illustrates both homophonic and contrapuntal techniques and concludes Schütz's setting of The St. Matthew Passion. Available: SATB a cappella. Duration: ca. 2:13.

Composer: Heinrich Schütz

Italian court musician and composer Antonio Scandello (1517-1580) rose to the position of Kapellmeister in Dresden, making him one of the most important musicians in Germany at the time. This spirited Renaissance-era choral work, translating to a small, white hen, includes humorous references to a chicken laying an egg, complete with a modest narrative and poultry vocalizations!

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Antonio Scandello

From Praetorius' Musae Sioniae of 1609, this charming Christmas partsong celebrates the Nativity with a simple verse/refrain structure. Ideal for developing the imitative vocal style of the Renaissance, it offers opportunities for displaying crisp diction and sharp dynamic contrasts. Duration: ca. 1:20.

Composer: Michael Praetorius

This new arrangement was created with success in mind! Introduce your men to this classic and all the opportunities it offers for great music-making.

Arranger: William Powell

Men's choruses will enjoy the bright joy and rhythmic precision of this 16th century madrigal by John Farmer arranged for TTBB voices. Duration: ca. 1:30.

Composer: John Farmer

The English composer and lutenist was a prolific writer of songs and madrigals. This work expresses sadness at the loss of a love, and gives your singers a chance to develop important ensemble skills. Duration: ca. 1:15

Arranger: John Leavitt

This secular English madrigal dances with rhythmic energy and fiery passion! The two soprano parts create an echo effect if separated spatially. Fun!

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Thomas Morley

This brilliant motet by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck is a substantial work for better high schools and up; opening with a virtuosic unfolding of imitative vocal phrases followed by a quiet middle section and building to a glorious alleluia. Duration: ca. 3:00.

Composer: Jan Sweelinck

The light and dance-like madrigal of the Tudor composer Thomas Weelkes is offered here in a fine edition for modern choirs. The delightful fa la la refrain connects the verses for an excellent choral showcase!

Arranger: John Leavitt

Here is Jan Pieter Sweelinck's famous Christmas motet in a clean and well-edited edition. A substantial work for better high school choirs and up, it will display brilliance and virtuosity for a festive season. Available for SSATB a cappella. Duration: ca. 3:00.

Composer: Jan Pieter Sweelinck

Here is Jan Pieter Sweelinck's famous Christmas motet in a clean and well-edited edition. A substantial work for better high school choirs and up, it will display brilliance and virtuosity for a festive season. Available for SSATB a cappella. Duration: ca. 3:00.

Composer: Jan Sweelinck

The 17th century English composer Michael East wrote madrigals, anthems and consorts, including this delightful madrigal here arranged for treble voices. With its intricate and playful voice parts, this is an excellent selection for ensemble, contest and concert. Duration: ca. 1:15.

Arranger: John Leavitt

Create a moment of reverence and reflection with this English Renaissance anthem, now arranged for men's voices. Ideal for concert and worship!

Composer: Thomas Tallis

Now available for women's voices, this popular French chanson relates the gossipy conversation of a pair of French housewives as they chatter about their husbands. Dance-like phrases echo back and forth along with colorful wordplay and double meanings.

Arranger: John Leavitt

This simple 3-Part canon offers an excellent introduction into a cappella Renaissance style. Available: 3-Part any combination.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

This beloved 16th-century German partsong is offered with both the original German and a new English text. Available: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 1:40.

Arranger: John Leavitt

From Hassler's Missa Secunda, this short imitative work offers opportunities for choirs to develop the performance practices of the late Renaissance and early Baroque era. An excellent selection for contest or other festival performances.

Composer: Hans Leo Hassler

(Tschesnokoff/Walker) SATB

Arranger: Rod Walker

The German baroque chorale "Est Ist Ein' Ros' Entsprungen", in a tasteful adaptation by John Leavitt, features the tenor on the melody of the second verse and a soprano descant on the third verse. Includes English and German texts.

Arranger: John Leavitt

Add a Renaissance touch to your holiday concerts! Madrigal for Christmas is fashioned after the ballettos of Italy which featured the popular fa la la refrains. In this piece, Morley uses a different nonsense refrain, lirum, lirum, which might be a sound effect imitating the strummed lute, a popular instrument from the Renaissance.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Thomas Morley

This charming secular Renaissance lied for treble voices is an excellent introduction to imitative part-singing and will be a superb addition to concert and contest programs. German and English lyrics. Duration: ca. 1:30.

Composer: Johann Jeep

This charming secular Renaissance lied is an excellent introduction to imitative part-singing. German and English text. Available: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 1:35.

Arranger: John Leavitt

Here is the famous madrigal by Thomas Morley in a new performing edition. Ideal for chamber, madrigal and concert choirs, this cheerful work offers superb opportunities for developing style, intonation and blend.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Thomas Morley

With a text from Lamentations 1:12, this historical setting by Croce works well with a small or large ensemble. Leavitt's editorial markings enhance the musicality of the work.Available separately: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 1:15.

Arranger: John Leavitt

Henry Leck's edition of this Praetorius work will be a selection you will use often for contest and holiday concerts. Available: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. :48.

Arranger: Henry Leck

This three voice madrigal by Thomas Weelkes is full of fun and whimsy, with changes in meter, interweaving vocal lines and a dance-like feel. An excellent selection for madrigal dinners, ensemble performances and other concert performances!

Composer: Thomas Weelkes

This spirited 3-voice madrigal with hand drum dances with humor and rhythmic energy! Excellent as a processional or opening number, your singers will enjoy the clever wordplay and vocal effects! Duration: ca. 2:00.

Composer: Thomas Weelkes

One of Palestrina's most famous motets, this is a beautifully reflective anthem with Leavitt's editorial markings enhancing the musicality of the work.Available separately: SATB a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 3:55.

Arranger: John Leavitt

Here is Sir Charles Villiers Stanford's famous meditative setting of a poem by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge. The editor has provided several options to make it more accessible to more choirs without losing the full glistening impact of the work.

Arranger: John Leavitt

The Hal Leonard Choral Treasury series has become the benchmark for clean, functional, well edited scores. This madrigal by the early English composer Thomas Weelkes is all of that and more. And the text lends itself to a winter program as well as any time during the year.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Composer: Thomas Weelkes

These two three-voice motets make excellent choices for contest. Includes: In monte Oliveti, Tristis est anima mea. Available: SSA/TBB a cappella. Peformance Time: Approx. 2:30.

Arranger: Matthew Michaels

The sonorous antiphonal phrases of Hans Leo Hassler's setting of John 1:14 will fill your performance space with rich harmonies. This new edition of the Renaissance motet is a wonderful concert showpiece!

Composer: Hans Leo Hassler

Enjoy the contrapuntal textures and fluid lines of the High Renaissance in this 16th century masterwork by the Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria to the text from Isaiah 53. Duration: ca. 3:20.

Composer: Tomas Luis de Victoria

John Bennet (c. 1575-c. 1614) was a Renaissance-era English composer who wrote several madrigals in the style of Thomas Morley. This is perhaps his most famous one, and is a wonderful contest or festival selection.

Composer: John Bennet

English composer John Bennet (c. 1575- c. 1614) wrote several madrigals in the style of Thomas Morley. This new edition for male voices is perfect for contest use.

Arranger: William Powell | Composer: John Bennet