Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F (The Ripon Service)

This setting of Evensong Canticles (BCP 1662) is intended for use in those churches which are looking for a relatively simple choral setting, or that don’t always have a mixed choir and need the flexibility of being able to sing the canticles in unison where necessary, or where a choir of children’s/women’s voices or men’s voices sing the service alone.

For churches with a mixed voice choir, SATB and unison textures are alternated throughout to provide a satisfying but easy to learn setting.

However, the canticles can also be sung in unison throughout, with optional lower harmonising notes in bars where the melody is in its higher reaches (F being the highest note). Suggestions are made as to how upper and lower voices can be alternated and combined, to provide variety of texture between the phrases.

In an earlier form it was first performed at Choral Evensong in Ripon Cathedral in the UK, on 21 May 2016, by the Yorkshire Decibelles under their director, Ruth Sladden.