Composition -
'Quam pulcra es,' a Parody
By Anthony St. Pierre July 2024
 
A T B or S A T
 
 
This trio is a parody of the famous motet 'Quam pulcra es' by John Dunstable (c.1390–1453). (The text is from the 'Song of Solomon'.) It fuses late medieval and modern harmonic practices. The Prince Consort performs on the accompanying recording. Duration: 2:30
-- Anthony St. Pierre
 
 
An easy ATB trio based on the early 15th-c sacred motet by John Dunstable. The opening section closely mirrors the original, with modern harmonies thrown in, and hints of the original show through the rest of the piece. All parts sit comfortably within the range of their respective instruments, but be sure to brush up on your flats, as there are sequences with several in a row in all parts – but the music moves slowly, so plenty of time to work out the technical challenges. Enjoy the late-Medieval flavors, especially at cadences. Be sure to check out St. Pierre's other parodies of popular pieces from the late Medieval and early Renaissance, “El Grillo” and “Mille regretz”.
-- Glen Shannon
 
 
No. of Recorder Parts:
3
Difficulty:
Easy
Occasion:
Any
Libraries:
New Music for Recorder
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Style:
Social/Casual, Concert, Fast/Up-tempo, Tonal/Melodic, Variations/Fantasies/Adaptations