It is a melancholic, self-indulgent plea for emotional saturation. The metaphor—music as food for the emotion of love—has inspired operas, films, novels, and now, digital-age storytelling. David Au’s interpretation enters this lineage not as a direct retelling of Shakespeare, but as a modern narrative that borrows the thematic richness: the intersection of art, passion, and the painful sweetness of longing.
: The composition trades motivic ideas between voice parts and utilizes the piano accompaniment to build and resolve tension, leading to a joyous finale. Difficulty : Generally rated at an advanced high school or collegiate level . It is listed on various state repertoire lists as Grade 4 or 5 (on a scale of 1-6) and Class A. if music be the food of love david dickau pdf free
The music opens with a gentle, flowing piano introduction that establishes a "sweet and longing" atmosphere. Dickau uses expressive chromaticism and carefully shaped phrases to mirror the text’s ebb and flow. The choir enters with the iconic line, and throughout the work, the composer plays with musical imagery: "That giving a surfeit to the appetite" is set with swelling dynamics and harmonic tension, while "dying fall" descends into a poignant, hushed resolution. It is a melancholic, self-indulgent plea for emotional
On TikTok’s #BookTok and Instagram’s #Bookstagram, readers don’t just review books—they pair them with mood boards, playlists, candles, and cozy reading nooks. David Au’s novella, with its musical theme, is perfect for this treatment. Imagine a post captioned: “Reading ‘If Music Be the Food of Love’ with a glass of red wine, rain outside, and Chopin’s Nocturnes in the background. Lifestyle goals.” : The composition trades motivic ideas between voice