The first verse is arranged, more or less. (I expect we'll hammer it out a little more in practice.) Notable changes:
- I felt free to rearrange the melismas to suit the English (rather than the French) words
- When in the original, in two places, there was a pattern like E - E, where the first E was outside the melisma and the second E was the first note in it, and in the arrangement both were in the melisma, I dropped one.
- I had a one-syllable word ending a line with a weird F-E melisma, and the next line started with an E - it just didn't sound right. I removed the E at the end of the line and held the F for longer.
As a troubador piece, it probably shouldn't have much in the way of rhythmic accompaniment. However, considering the audience, I'm thinking sing the first verse mostly without drum, but then add one when the song's true martial intent becomes clear. I think it'll give it an edge and some energy.
I wonder if a recorder solo in the middle, using the verse melody but in duple (marching) meter would be a good thing or a bad thing...
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