10. Mary's hymn (Magnificat)

A cappella version: Score(PDF)     MIDI (20 KB)     MP3 (5 MB)     Sibelius4 (50 KB)     MusicXML (743 KB)

Version with organ: Score(PDF)     MIDI (29 KB)     MP3 (6 MB)     Sibelius4 (58 KB)     MusicXML (1.2 MB)

Dedication: To Morten Lauridsen.

Text: Luke 1:46-55 in English (King James version), followed by minor doxology in Latin.

Musicians: SATB chorus, occasionally divisi; either a cappella or with organ. (Separate organ part follows score in the .pdf file.)

Length: 6 minutes

Style: Renaissance forms, with gentle pandiatonic harmony and smooth modulations.

Program notes: The initial theme introduced by the sopranos is echoed one bar later by the altos (canon at the 5^th) and also by the tenors and basses at 1/2 speed and 1/3 speed, respectively (prolation canon). The middle section uses free imitative polyphony and familiar style, often in a rhythmic pattern of 3-3-2-3-3-4. The ending doxology repeats the initial canon above Gregorian tone VIIIG (one of the set used to chant the Magnificat in Latin).

Performance suggestions: Variations of tempo and dynamic are not marked in the score (or used in the MP3 & MIDI files); they are at the discretion of performers. (But, in this piece, they should be subtle.)