Music Text
1962 Book of Common Prayer (E)
Abbreviations (PDF)
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes
Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes
for the world.
Availability
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

Wells Cathedral Choir/Jonathan Vaughn/Matthew Owens
Hyperion CDA67867
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