Festival Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis

Eight-part chorus (SATB/SATB). This Latin setting of the Nunc Dimittis for eight-part chorus was commission by Southern Cathedrals Festival as a counterpart to Charles Villiers Stanford's 1918 Magnificat (also in Latin and for eight-part chorus). It was premiered under the direction of Andrew Lumsden at the Festival Evensong on 19 July, 2008 in Winchester Cathedral by the combined Choirs of Winchester, Chichester and Salisbury Cathedrals. / SATB

Eight-part chorus (SATB/SATB). This Latin setting of the Nunc Dimittis for eight-part chorus was commission by Southern Cathedrals Festival as a counterpart to Charles Villiers Stanford’s 1918 Magnificat (also in Latin and for eight-part chorus). It was premiered under the direction of Andrew Lumsden at the Festival Evensong on 19 July 2008 in Winchester Cathedral by the combined Choirs of Winchester Chichester and Salisbury Cathedrals.

Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995) was a highly skilled organist and conductor who began his musical life as a chorister under Brewer at Gloucester. After Brewer’s death he returned as organist to Gloucester and spent nearly 40 years there. Through the Three Choirs Festival he built close and fruitful relationships with composers such as Elgar Vaughan Williams Holst Finzi and Howells. As one would expect from a cathedral musician of such standing Sumsion’s contribution to the Anglican repertoire was immense. While not as well-known as his Full-Choir setting his arrangement of the Magnificat And Nunc Dimittis In G for Boy’s Voicesis a valuable addition to any choir’s library. It is scored for two Soprano or Treble parts with an Organ accompaniment although the second voice part is optional.

Commande du Festival d'Art Sacré de la Ville de Paris 1992 et de Stéphane Caillat. Je me suis beaucoup intéressé dans les années 80 aux différentes liturgies chrétiennes notamment à l'emploi du chant grégorien dans la liturgie catholique des chorals (M.Luther J.Crüger) et du psautier genevois dans la liturgie protestante que j'ai souvent cités dans mes partitions écrites sur des textes religieux (Requiem Magnificat Nunc dimittis).Pour l'Ave verum qui fait allusion à la transformation par le prêtre de l'hostie en véritable chair du Christ ilétait hors de question d'utiliser des fragments de chants de la Réforme puisque le protestantisme réfute la 'transsubstantiation'. Comme je n'y crois pas non plus j'ai donc choisi le texte de l'Ave verum uniquement pour sa simplicité et son aspect sonore mais peut-être aussi son mystère.J'ai écrit ici en outre pour la première et la dernière fois 'a cappella' un exercice délicat qui requiert beaucoup d'attention dans l'écriture et j'ai emprunté à la mélodie grégorienne correspondante la quasi totalité des parties de ténors (la 'teneur') mélodie sur laquelle j'ai construit toute la polyphonie de la partition.J'ai cependant fait appel vers le milieu de celle-ci à la vois de soprano soliste sur le texte en grec (langue originale du Nouveau Testament) du verset 34 du chapitre XIX de l'évangile de Jean : '... un des soldats lui perça le côté avec une lance et aussitôt il en sortit de l'eau et du sang...' dont on retrouve ensuite l'idée au verset 6 du chapitre V de la Première épître à Jean : '... c'est lui Jésus-Christ qui est venu avec de l'eau et du sang...' deux récits auxquels fait écho le texte

A setting of the Evening Canticles for SATB Choir and Organ. Commissioned by the Southern Cathedrals Festival.

A lively rhythmic setting of the evening canticles written for the Southern Cathedrals festival. It's one of those pieces that's difficult to shake from your mind once you've sung it.

For SATB Choir and Organ this an extremely popular and somewhat unusual inclusion in the Church and Cathedral repertoire. Dedicated to John Birch and the Southern Cathedral's Festival this work is based on Latin American rhythms.

For this Organ concluding voluntary Hugh Blair choose two carols that sound authentically old and one A Virgin Unspotted which dates from the 17th century. The short piece includes a delightful reworking of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and a gently rocking Good King Wenceslas in 6/8. Hugh Blair was an English Organist conductor and composer of some perspicacity. Elgar’s cantata The Black Knight is dedicated to Blair who conducted its first performance in 1893 during the time when Elgar was gradually building his reputation through the Midlands Choral festivals. He also asked the composer to write an Organ voluntary to whichElgar responded with his first Organ Sonata. Blair is best known for his Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis which are still performed.

SATB a cappella or SATB—Org(Pf) with optional Brass(2Trp— Hn/Trb—Trb)