Category: Choral Music
Instrumentation: a cappella voices
Duration: 2 minutes
Text / Source: Anonymous Renaissance poem
Publisher: North Star Music

Love Me Not for Comely Grace is an intermediate-level a cappella setting of an anonymous Renaissance poem. A lighthearted love song, it brings a bright and affectionate close to Three Madrigals.

The song is through-composed, though similar motives appear in each verse, giving the music both continuity and forward motion. Baxter’s lyrical writing supports the poem’s charm while keeping the setting clear, direct, and singable.

Love Me Not for Comely Grace is well suited for chamber choirs, school and collegiate ensembles, and programs combining early poetry with contemporary choral writing. It may be performed within the complete set or as a standalone selection, especially where a concise, graceful love song is desired.