St Matthew's Consort
Magnificat
Kelly Beall Lisa
Bailey Jim
Boehm Murray
Beall
Phoebe Lewis Amelia
Ballard D.C.
Turner Mike
Halsey
Dianne Prince Sue
Karaffa Doug
Westland Victor
Karaffa
Odette Ross Wendy
Phillips Elliot
Lewis
Kelley Trainor
Judy Wilkinson Organ Malcolm
Halford
Orchestra
leader - Cheryl-Ann Lewis
Violin 1 Violin
2 Cello
Tara Chambers Ursula
Genaehr Victor
Karaffa
Kathy Lindsay Julia
Turner Lyndal
Nevin
Viola Continuo
Toby Lewis
The Anglican
Evensong service is one of the oldest traditions in the church. Formalised in
the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 the service has remained unchanged to this
day. It is at once an enduring source of spiritual comfort at the end of a long
day, and an expression of all that is rich and noble in the Anglican music
tradition.
The Magnificat and
Nunc Dimittis are sung either side of the New Testament reading. Traditionally
both are sung to pointed psalm chants, but so evocative are these texts that
composers across the centuries have felt compelled to set them as larger
anthems.
Today we present
music by three very different composers. An 1896 setting by Tertius Noble (1867-1953) features a restless and
dramatic organ part in the Magnificat followed by contrasting sections of
meditation and powerful block chord writing.
The second by Herbert
Murrill (1909-1952) dates
from 1946 and is characterised by a distinctive organ part that comments on the
text in a most arresting manner. The organist rarely touches on any of the
notes that the choir is singing, but provides a powerfully written independent
part.
Our final setting
is from 1996 by Howard Goodall (1958-
), known for his television music to The Vicar of Dibley, Mr Bean and
Blackadder. Published as the Marlborough Canticles, Goodall dresses these timeless words in
elegant modern harmonies and free flowing rhythms.
The pulsating
melodic lines communicate the text directly, and again the organ is almost
entirely independent, only occasionally echoing the choir's melodies.
The gentle arching melody
that opens the Nunc Dimittis is sung today by Phoebe Lewis as a final offering
to the music life of St Matthew's church after 12 years of service to the
choir.
I trust that the
sense of unbridled joy in the Gloria will bring today's recital to a most
fulfilling conclusion.
Magnificat
My soul doth
magnify the Lord,
And my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath
regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty
hath magnified me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is
on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath shewed
strength with his arm;
He hath
scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts:
He hath put down
the mighty from their seat,
And hath exalted
the humble and meek:
He hath filled
the hungry with good things,
And the rich he
hath sent empty away.
He remembering
his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel,
As he promised
to our forefathers Abraham and his seed forever.
Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost.
As it was in the
beginning is now and ever shall be
World without
end. Amen.
Lord, now
lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
According to thy
word.
For mine eyes have
seen thy salvation
Which thou hast
prepared before the face of all people.
To be a light to
lighten the Gentiles,
And to be the
Glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the
beginning is now and ever shall be
World without
end. Amen.
Written for the St.
Paul's Girl's School in Hammersmith, this imaginative set of four movements
allows players to explore a range of string techniques within a framework of
English dance rhythms and folk songs.
The music opens
with a Jig in
alternating 6/8 and 9/8. The Ostinato features a continuous violin figure and a solo violin. The Intermezzo begins with a solo violin over pizzicato
chords, before a viola joins in a duet. After an animated section the first
melody is heard played by a solo quartet. Finally the folksong Dargason is cleverly combined with Greensleeves to conclude the suite.
Today we feature
the sound of our fine Letourneau organ in this short work by one of the most prominent
names in Anglican music.