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Music Text

1962 Book of Common Prayer (E)

Scoring

1.picc.1.corA.2.2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(2):vib/glsp/t.bells/tam-t/susp.cym/BD-harp-
organ(ad lib)-strings

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

Availability

World premiere of version
16/11/2001
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
BBC Philharmonic and BBC Singers / James MacMillan
Repertoire Note

Choral level of difficulty: 2-3 (5 greatest)

MacMillan’s large-scale festival setting of the Nunc Dimittis, commissioned by Winchester Cathedral, can be performed with organ or orchestra. The choral style is simple and often homophonic - unusual for the composer. Much of the elaboration of the textual imagery occurs in the introspective, Messiaen-tinged non-choral episodes, evoking evening and birdsong. The Nunc Dimittis starts wonderfully with very low bass notes portraying the elderly Simeon. It builds to a huge and exciting climax and ends with the basses’ low notes once more.

Repertoire note by Paul Spicer

Recommended Recording
cd_cover

BBC Singers/BBC Philharmonic/James MacMillan
Chandos CHAN9997

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