In the 60s (?) there was a wonderful set of four short pieces called "Love Lost," by Paul Sjolund.  But the last time I checked they were POP.  A couple of them stick in mind yet:

     Bill was ill;

     in his delirium

     he talked about Miriam.

     This was an error,

     as his wife was a terror

     known as Joan.

 

Another talks endearingly about "your little . . . " --hands, feet, &c. &c., then ends, "Your little eyes, so soft and kind; your little ears, your little mind."

 

What a fun concert theme!  Three pieces immediately sprang to mind - though they're not all about relationships ending, per se, they do have some of the satirical angle you're looking for:

 

Paul Sjolund, "Love Lost" (four short movements; SATB/a cappella; punny/humorous)

 

Stephen Hopkins, "Dear John, Dear John (Punctuated by Love)" (SSA/piano; relatively easy; sets the same text twice, but different punctuation turns it from a "Dear John" letter that's sweet and loving into one that's snarky and bitter)

 

"Getting Married Today" from Stephen Sondheim's "Company"

I've no idea if there is a choral arrangement of "Could I Leave You' by Stephen Sondheim, but I think that's the best show song in this category.

 

Paul Halley "The Lover's Arithmetic"

Ruth Morris Gray "No Thank You John" (SSA)

 

Dennis Vaughan's "Ladies And Gentlemen" - not strictly in this category, but it sets a collection of famous quotes about relationships between men and women. The opening is the famous exchange between Lady Astor and Winston Churchill: "if you were my husband, I'd put poison in your coffee", "if you were my wife, I'd drink it". It's unpublished, so I'd have to try and dig out his contact details for you.

"Oh No!" by Ruth Morris Gray is great fun.

You might also take a look at what other people are saying about the breakup. (I love the concert title, by the way...)

"Neighbors Chorus" by Offenbach

"Je le Vous Diray" by Pierre Certon

 

Take care! :)

--Craig

If I loved you, from Oklahoma.

In my piece Eight Gypsy Songs After Brahms, my settings of translated texts from Brahms' Zigeunerlieder are sung in an order which tells a story of a "relationship gone awry!"  Complete information, including sample PDF and performance MP3, available at

 

http://www.jonathansantore.com/eightgypsysongs.html

 

All best!

Jonathan Santore

info(a)jonathansantore.com

www.jonathansantore.com

Hal Leonard publishers used to publish an SSA arrangement of the '60's pop hit "GONNA GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU NOW." It may be out of print by now however, you might find someone who still has copies in their music library and would loan it.

Walton Music Corp has published  LOVE LOST (four satirical poems on love) by Paul Sjolund arranged for SATB. These are excellent, short pieces and would be very entertaining for the audience. Good luck

Georgina,

 

Checkout:

 

HOW CAN I MISS YOU IF YOU WON'T GO AWAY?

I don't know if it is published. Check YouTube.

 

And then there is the old song,  "IN THE GLOAMING."

Found in  the "Golden Book of Favorite  Songs."

 

Sounds like a lot of fun concert.

 

Ed Palmer

 

 

There's an SSA arr. of a folk song, "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife," that tells of the devil taking a mean wife away, then bringing her back!  Very funny.  If you're interested, I'll try to locate it.

 

Catherine Bartoli

cbartoli(a)swbell.net

Gwyneth Walker Banks of the Ohio - terrific

Kirke Mechem's  Love and Pizen (poison)

Sjolund's Love Lost - a riot

 

David