Paul Merkus : Otherwise

This song was written for singing group Otherwise, to which I was associated as an accompanying pianist.
The text is a call to stop talking, after all "we don't need sweet talk or lies, we prefer to sing rather than do anything else, music is our language!"
Central to this song is the exclamation "Stop talking", followed by the strongly rhythmic "music is our language". However, the next sentence "Always tuning in to vocalise" breathes a much more classic atmosphere (through an authentic cadenza with caveats).
From "need no stories, need no lies" the chorus builds again towards a climax, first around the word "harmonise", and then ends in the exclamation of the word "otherwise", title of the song and also name of the choir.
The verse contrasts with the chorus by a much milder atmosphere, full of cheerfully sung wisdom, supported by a basso continuo-like accompaniment. The melody of the verse always has a different ending for the three verses: the first verse has a melodically flat ending, the second already shows a slightly ascending final line, while the third and last verse ends with an exuberant high-pitched exclamation.