Come, follow me

William Horsley’s Come, follow me is a charming example of the glee and partsong tradition of English secular vocal music. Written for SATB choir, the piece opens with light, imitative entries that immediately evoke the playful, dancing motion described in the text. The music captures the joy and ethereal quality of a fairy revel, with nimble vocal lines that seem to tread delicately over the ‘greene’. The composer matches the text’s imagery of the fairies’ light footsteps, which leave no trace on the grass, through agile melodic writing and a sense of buoyant, flowing energy. It is a delightful evocation of fairy magic, perfectly suited for a choir looking for bright, spirited, and engaging repertoire.