The Strathclyde Motets

Roman Breviary, John II: 33,35,43,44,39 (L)

Choral level of difficulty: Level 1 (5 greatest)

In writing the Strathclyde Motets MacMillan set out to write a series of communion motets of only moderate difficulty, which would be of real and lasting use for average church or concert choirs. Aware that much of his choral music to date could be too challenging for average use, these new motets provide a very welcome opportunity for almost any choir of reasonable attainment and ambition to sing some contemporary music of real value.

Videns Dominus is scored for SATB voices with divided tenors and basses at one point. Starting canonically with the decorated melody between sopranos and tenors the motet continues in a fragmented progress of short statements which includes one short tenor solo. The motet continues the general theme of these atmospheric works.

Repertoire note by Paul Spicer