Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

The Magnificat (from the Latin 'magnify') and the Nunc Dimittis (from the Latin 'now depart') are very old hymns of the Church and take their texts from the Gospel according to St Luke. They have been used liturgically as canticles (liturgical songs) for centuries in the life of the Church. The Catholic Church still uses the Magnificat in its Office of Vespers, and the Nunc Dimittis at Compline, and the Church of England/Episcopal/Anglican Church, when it combined the seven daily offices into two great offices included them both in Evensong. For this use they have become widely known and why they are still often set by composers as a pair. When written as canticles they each conclude with the Gloria Patri.

This setting of the evening canticles uses the Book of Common Prayer (1662) translation of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis.

Musically, it is a tuneful setting, and while approachable, still paints the words particularly through its use of harmony.

The organ registration, while seemingly precise, gives hints as to the style or mood of the various sections. An organist will necessarily adjust these to suit the organ, choir and acoustic of the building in which it is performed.

Work Details

Year: 2018

Instrumentation: SATB choir, organ.

Duration: 6 min.

Difficulty: Medium

Commission note: Composed for the St John's Evensong Choir, Church of St John the Evangelist, Gordon, NSW.

First performance: by St John's Evensong Choir, Brett McKern, Nicola Chau — 14 Oct 18. St John’s Church Gordon, Sydney