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Works

Nunc dimittis

2001

Scored for

mixed choir (SATB) a cappella

Duration

7 min

Short description

Nunc dimittis, an a cappella choral composition from 2001, is based on a text from the Gospel of Luke, was commissioned by the Choir of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, and is dedicated to the choir. The world premiere took place on 15 August, 2001 at the Edinburgh Festival. It was performed in St Mary's Cathedral by the same choir, conducted by Matthew Owens.

Nunc dimittis from the Gospel of Luke alongside the Magnificat are the focus of Evening Prayers in the Anglican liturgy. These are the words from old Simeon’s blessings before his death, seeing little Jesus as the Messiah, just as the Holy Spirit had told him. Pärt’s Nunc dimittis, like many other of his works from the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s…

Nunc dimittis, an a cappella choral composition from 2001, is based on a text from the Gospel of Luke, was commissioned by the Choir of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, and is dedicated to the choir. The world premiere took place on 15 August, 2001 at the Edinburgh Festival. It was performed in St Mary's Cathedral by the same choir, conducted by Matthew Owens.

Nunc dimittis from the Gospel of Luke alongside the Magnificat are the focus of Evening Prayers in the Anglican liturgy. These are the words from old Simeon’s blessings before his death, seeing little Jesus as the Messiah, just as the Holy Spirit had told him. Pärt’s Nunc dimittis, like many other of his works from the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s, is composed in a more free tintinnabuli-technique. Different musical textures alternate according the paragraphs of the text. The piece that sounds mostly in minor key has its climax on the word lumen (light) that is highlighted with major key.

World premiere

15.08.2001
St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Choral Evensong

Choir of St. Mary's Cathedral , Matthew Owens (conductor)

Completion year

2001

Dedication

to the Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh

Commissioned by

the Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh with funds provided by St Mary’s Cathedral Music Society and the Capital Commissions scheme

Scored for

mixed choir (SATB) a cappella

Duration

7 min

Publishers

Universal Edition

Language

Latin

Vocal text

Luke 2, 29-32

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace,
quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum,
quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum,
lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. 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;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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