Compare me to the child

John Farmer’s Compare me to the child is a characterful example of English madrigal writing for double choir (SATB,ATTB). The composer uses the two choirs to create a rich, imitative texture, often passing short, rhythmic motives between the groups. The text, which Farmer sets with lively word-painting, speaks of obsessive love, comparing the singer’s plight to various self-destructive figures. The contrast between the lover’s enduring 'care' and the ephemeral nature of other beings is powerfully expressed through the dialogue and interplay of the eight voices. This secular part-song offers a rewarding challenge for an experienced choir.