Tota pulchra es by Jean Mouton - looking for an SATB transposition
  • Quaerens
    Posts: 3
    Hello everyone,
    I'm looking for an SATB transposition for Jean Mouton's short but beautiful Tota pulchra es, composed for TBarBarB. The TBarBarB version is available on CPDL here: https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Tota_pulchra_es_(Jean_Mouton)

    It was recently recorded by (four of) the Gesualdo Six for their new album Queen of Hearts (Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhKl4lU2rOI)

    If anyone has an edition for SATB, or would be willing to make one, I would be very grateful.

    Thank you!
    Quaerens
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    I've thought about it too, but the voices are too close together, and to move it high enough that the soprano could handle the lowest note would entail transposing at least up a major sixth (making the lowest soprano note G), but now you'll make your tenor have to go into the stratosphere. If one of your male singers can double as a countertenor, then you can make essentially a Mezz-A-A-T version that way.
    Thanked by 1Quaerens
  • Quaerens
    Posts: 3
    I see what you mean, thank you for explaining! Maybe best as per the composer's intent in any case. Gorgeous piece though :)
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    I, too, noticed the closeness of the voice parts, but I have come up with an arrangement for MzATB voices, transposed up a fifth from the original, with some part swapping to facilitate placement of vocal ranges. I'm still working on some editorial details (including text underlay), but here is what I have done so far.
    Mouton-Tota pulchra es-raw-up 5th.pdf
    91K
  • Quaerens
    Posts: 3
    Oh my, this looks wonderful! Thank you, Mr. Giffen.