Pretty Saro

This beautiful folk ballad from 17th century England is haunting and timeless. The lyrics tell the story of an immigrant looking for love in a new and unfamiliar land. Each of the 3 verses varies in perspective with verse 1 sung by a baritone soloist accompanied by soaring choral dissonances. The second verse, set in 4 part canon, paints the text, “And write it [a letter to the beloved one] by the river where the water o'er flow.” In the final verse, the Soprano solo adds an unsettled sense of agony to the text, “And when I get weary, I'll sit down and cry. And think of my Saro, Pretty Saro, my bride.”