| What then is Love? Four Modern Madrigals for Choir (SATB) and optional Piano |
|
|---|---|
| Date of composition | November 1957 |
| Opus number | 26d |
| Type of work | Concert music |
| Duration | 6 mins |
| Musical forces | Choir (SATB) and optional Piano |
| Words | Various |
| Publisher | Roberton Publications |
| Archive location | Trinity Laban (Jerwood Library) |
| Archive contents | MS / BLYTON 117 |
| Notes | Originally published by Mills Music; republished by Roberton; songs are: 1. Western wind, when will thou blow? (Anon.); 2. Tell me, where is fancy bred? (William Shakespeare); 3. Stay, O sweet, and do not rise! (John Donne); 4. Love is a sickness full of woes (Samuel Daniel) |
…once the modern idiom has been assimilated, the cycle is most rewarding.
—Making Music, Autumn 1960
Groups looking for something more adventurous, yet in an acceptable idiom, will find Carey Blyton’s cycle very effective.
—The Times Educational Supplement, 10th February 1961
Though technically not easy to perform, they are well worth the effort to prepare for public performance, for they will not only prove enjoyable to learn, but will give pleasure to an audience.
—Teachers’ World, 24th March 1961
…the third, Stay, O sweet, and do not rise!, has a certain sombre, esoteric appeal, and the last, Love is a sickness full of woes, exhibits some lively part-writing and some telling harmonic effects…
—The Croydon Advertiser, 16th May 1963
Of considerable interest were three works by Carey Blyton: Love is a sickness, Stay, O sweet and The Silly Flea. Here we had mature, sonorous music well laid out for the voices and interesting to both singers and listeners … these delightful works, of which The Silly Flea received a first performance.
—Kentish Times, 8th April 1966