Repertoire Recommendations for the Canticles of Christmas
Mary’s Song (Magnificat)
Hymn Settings (metrical paraphrases)
"Song of Mary" Winter MORNING SONG (CM)
"Song of Mary" Westra PENTECOST (LM)
"Tell Out, My Soul" Dudley-Smith WOODLANDS (10 10 10 10)
"Magnify the Lord" Communauté de Taizé
Choral Settings
“A New Magnificat," Carolyn Jennings (responsorial)
[Augsburg 11-2098]
"Magnificat," Joseph Bonnet (responsorial)
[Concordia 98-2425]
"Magnificat," John Folkening
[Morning Star 80-002]
"Magnificat," Mendelssohn
[Augsburg 11-2176]
"My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord," Hank Beebe
[Hinshaw HPC-7011]
"My Soul Proclaims the Greatness," Gieseke
[Concordia 98-2770]
"My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord," Jeremiah Dencke (solo)
[in Ten Sacred Songs (Carl Fischer)]
"My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord," Randall Thompson (solo)
[in The Nativity According to St. Luke (E.C. Schinner)]
"Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in Bb" (Collegium Regale), Herbert Howells. SATB divisi, tenor solo with organ.
[Novello 29 0289 03]
"Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G," Herbert Howells. SATB with organ. (Sublime, soaring lines are a trademark of Howells. The strength needed to spin them out makes these a challenge worth the effort!)
Level: Moderately difficult.
[Stainer & Bell 216]
"Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G," Herbert Sumsion. SATB with organ.
[Novello 29 0290 07]
"Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A," Herbert Sumsion. SATB with organ. (Elegant, lyrical lines and interesting, fresh harmonies—all this and singable too! Imitative and chordal writing creates contrasting textures. Sumsion is a composer worth discovering).
Level: Moderate.
[Royal School of Church Music 115]
"Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C," Ralph Vaughan Williams. SATB or SAB or unison with organ. (A simple, strong, no-nonsense setting that is very approachable).
Level: Easy.
[G. Schirmer 8813]
Zechariah’s Song (Benedictus Dominus Deus)
Hymn Settings (metrical paraphrases)
"Song of Zechariah" Polman AN WASSERFLUSSEN BABYLON (87 87 887 887)
"Song of Zechariah" Quinn KINGSFOLD (CMD)
"Song of Zechariah" MERLE'S TUNE (7676D) [PH 602]
Choral Settings
"Benedictus in G" (paired with a Te Deum), Herbert Sumsion. SAFE divisi with organ. (Lyric lines contrasted with homophonic writing in quasi- 'Anglican chant" style).
Level: Moderate.
[Oxford 466]
"Blessed Be the Lord," Ronald Arnatt. Unison, organ/piano. (A delightfully simple setting that expresses the text dramatically).
Level: Easy.
[Walton]
Angels’ Song (Gloria in excelsis Deo)
Hymn Settings (metrical paraphrases)
"Glory to God" Schultz ERE ZIJ GOD (PM)
(Note: As a substitute, use "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night" Tate)
"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" Tate CHRISTMAS (CM)
"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" Tate WINCHESTER OLD (CM)
Choral Settings
"Gloria," Antonio Vivaldi, ed. Elmer Thomas. SATB with chamber orchestra or organ reduction. (The first two movements of this favorite work excerpt easily This edition has a singable English translation).
Level: Moderate.
[Roger Dean CC 96]
"Glory to God in the Highest," Randall Thompson. SATB a cappella. (A classic! Rhythmic, bright A section opens and closes this piece in contrast to the sustained B section).
Level: Moderately difficult.
[E.C. Schirmer 2470]
Simeon’s Song (Nunc dimittis)
Hymn Settings (metrical paraphrases)
"Song of Simeon" LAND OF REST (CM) [PH 603]
"Song of Simeon" Westra NUNC DIMITTIS (667D)
"Faithful Vigil Ended" Dudley-Smith PASTOR (6565)
"Song of Simeon" SONG 1 (1010 10101010) [PH 604]
Choral Settings
[see last five Magnificat settings]
"Nunc Dimittis," Felix Mendelssohn, ed. Robert Kendall. SATB with organ. (Imitative and homophonic writing creates a rich setting in three sections).
Level: Moderate.
[Augsburg, 11-2177]
