Composed by Mikael Carlsson, lyrics by Sir William Shakespeare. Composition year: 2015. Secular.

An expressive three movement work for SATB choir with divisi and piano accompaniment exploring Shakespeare text s with a nocturnal setting. Beautiful harmony and forward movement leads the way of 'Over Hill, Over Dale' ('Midsummer Night's Dream'), ominous piano glissandi and misterioso chords dominate 'Heavily, Heavily' ('Much Ado About Nothing') and shimmering light and a dazzling ending with the effect of whistling and sea waves makes the final 'Night of Our Solemnities' ('Midsummer Night's Dream) particularly memorable.


1. Over Hill, Over Dale (Midsummer Night's Dream)

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire.
I do wander everywhere
Swifter than the moon?s sphere.
And I serve the fairy queen
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be.
In their gold coats spots you see.
Those be rubies, fairy favors.
In those freckles live their savors.
I must go seek some dewdrops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslip?s ear.
Farewell, thou lob of spirits. I?ll be gone.
Our queen and all our elves come here anon.

2. Heavily, Heavily (Much Ado About Nothing)

Pardon, goddess of the night,
Those that slew thy virgin knight,
For the which with songs of woe
Round about her tomb they go.
Midnight, assist our moan.
Help us to sigh and groan
Heavily, heavily.
Graves, yawn and yield your dead,
Till death be utterèd,
Heavily, heavily.

3. Night of Our Solemnities (Midsummer Night's Dream)

Four days will quickly steep themselves in night.
Four nights will quickly dream away the time.
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
New bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities.

Choral score including piano part. 28 pages.
Total duration: 15:30.
Movement 1: 4:30
Movement 2: 5:00
Movement 3: 6:00

Suitable for concert programs concerning themes such as Shakespeare, night, evening, love, sorrow, evening, forgiving.

Discover more music by Mikael Carlsson at http://www.mikaelcarlsson.com

That's Amore first appeared in the 1953 movie The Caddy. Lyricist Jack Brooks describes "amoré" (love) in the southern Italian town of Napol, a towni filled with passion - and compares "amoré" to his favorite foods: pizza and pasta fazool. It's a quirky romantic song poking a bit of fun at Italian stereotypes. This arrangement is for 4-part SATB ensemble with piano accompaniment. It works perfectly at outdoor events, entertainment at dinners, and as a sing-along. Performance time: 2:30+.

SATB Chorus, Piano, Cello
Composed by Eric L. Carlson (poem by Walt Whitman)
Written for the Intermezzo Choir of Waterford High School (WI) - Derek Machan, director
Performance time approx. 4:30

If you've seen "Dead Poets Society" starring Robin Williams, you're probably familiar with this poem. In fact, the composer borrowed a line of Robin's dialogue to use at the end of the piece. Listen to the recording to find out what it is!

Includes cello part (last 2 pages) with the score.
ALSO AVAILABLE: Demonstration/Practice CD with several tracks, including individual practice tracks for each vocal part, are available directly from the composer for just $30.00 plus shipping (or $25 for download). Send email request to CarlsonMusicPro@yahoo.com

This piece has been recognized by Project Encore and the American Prize.Text by Joseph Freiherr von EichendorffEichendorff was one of the leading poets of nineteenth-century German Romanticism. His poem Mondnacht (?Moon-night?) was especially beloved by his compatriot composers, with over two dozen settings including a particularly famous one by Schumann. Debussy is reflected in extended, quasi-impressionistic harmonies, such as the opening C-major-ninth chord with an A in the melody. The opening sonorities return for the final stanza, expanding and accelerating as the soul stretches its wings. The work concludes with gentle, again impressionistic, oscillations between C minor and C major.Es war, als hätt? der HimmelDie Erde still geküßt,Daß sie im BlütenschimmerVon ihm nun träumen müßt.Die Luft ging durch die Felder,Die Ähren wogten sacht,Es rauschten leis die Wälder,So sternklar war die Nacht.Und meine Seele spannteWeit ihre Flügel aus,Flog durch die stillen Lande,Als flöge sie nach Haus.It was as if the heavenshad quietly kissed the earth,that she, in blossoms? shimmer,now must dream of him.The breeze went by the field,the ears of corn waved softly,it rustled gently the woods,so starlit was the night.And my soul stretchedout wide its wings,flew through the quiet lands,as if flying itself home.? Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788?1857)Please contact Joy at joyfulporter@hotmail.com if you are planning a performance of this piece. Thank you!