Magnificat (Rutter)

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Madonna in the garden , anonymous Rhenish master, 16th century. As in the inserted sentence Of a Rose from the 15th century, Mary is related to a rose.

The Magnificat by John Rutter is a setting of the biblical song Magnificat , which was completed in 1990. The extensive composition in seven movements is set “for soprano or mezzo-soprano solo, mixed choir, and orchestra (or chamber ensemble)” (for solo soprano or mezzo-soprano, mixed choir and orchestra (or chamber ensemble)). It is based on the text in Latin with other texts inserted. The second movement is an old English poem with Marian themes , "Of a Rose, a lovely Rose" . Further movements include the beginning of the Sanctus and a Latin prayer addressed to Mary . The music contains elements of Latin American music .

Story and text

The Magnificat is one of three chants in the New Testament , alongside the Nunc dimittis and the Benedictus . Mary sings it during her visit to her relatives Elizabeth , which is reported in the Gospel of Luke ( Lk 1,39-56  LUT ). It is a daily part of Vespers and the Anglican Evensong .

John Rutter followed the long tradition of setting words musically. Like Bach in his Magnificat , he structured the text in several sentences of different characters. He was commissioned by MidAmerica Productions, a New York concert promoter who performed concerts at Carnegie Hall with a choir of approximately 200 voices from the United States. The composer felt inspired by the “jubilant celebrations of Mary in Hispanic cultures” and laid out the work as a “bright Latin-flavored fiesta” (bright Latin fiesta). In addition to the liturgical Latin text, Rutter chose a 15th century English poem comparing Mary to a rose. In the third sentence he follows the text of the Magnificat "sanctum nomen eius" (his holy name) with the beginning of the Sanctus . In the final text of the doxology a Latin prayer is included, “Sancta Maria, succure miseris” (Holy Mary, help the needy). Rutter prepared a singable English version for the entire work.

occupation

The composer (2012)

Rutter composed the work for a female voice ( soprano or mezzo-soprano ), which partly embodies Maria, and a mixed choir, mostly SATB , but sometimes with divided voices. Rutter offers two versions, for orchestra or chamber ensemble. The orchestra consists of:

In the chamber version, the brass section is mostly replaced by the organ . Only one woodwind instrument is required at a time, and in the strings only at least two first violins, two second violins, two violas, cello and double bass.

sentences

The following table shows the title, the tempo , which Rutter often characterizes in English, the voices, the time signature , the key and the text source for the seven movements . The information is given for the beginning of the block. Rutter changes tempo, key, and measure frequently. The source for the details is the choral score.

No. title Tempo designation occupation Tact key Text source
1 Magnificat anima mea Bright and joyful
(light and cheerful)		 Choir 3/8 / 3/4 G major Lk 1.46-48  VUL
2 Of a rose, a lovely rose Tranquil and flowing
(calm and flowing)		 Choir 3/4 D dorian 15th century English poem
3 Quia fecit mihi magna Andante maestoso
(walking majestically)		 Choir 3/4 D major Lk 1.49  VUL , Sanctus
4th Et misericordia Andante fluente
( flowing )		 Soprano, choir 3/4 A flat major Lk 1.50  VUL
5 Fecit potentiam Allegro energico
(happy and energetic)		 Choir 4/4 Lk 1.52  VUL
6th Esurientes Slow and calm
(slow and silent)		 Soprano, choir 12/8 B flat major Lk 1.53-55  VUL
7th Gloria Patri Maestoso
(Majestic)		 Choir 3/4 D major Doxology , inserted: Sancta Maria, succure miseris

Performance, recording and publication

The first performance was conducted by the composer on May 26, 1990 at Carnegie Hall, with soloist Maria Alsatti and the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra . Rutter also conducted a recording with Patricia Forbes, the Cambridge Singers and the City of London Sinfonia . A performance lasts approximately 40 minutes. The work was published in 1991 by Oxford University Press . The composer provided an alternative, singable version in English. Of a Rose, a lovely Rose was also released individually in 1998.

One reviewer noted that Rutter "emphasizes the joy experienced by a ... soon to be mother" with "a good balance between the extrovert and intimate." and intimate) and with a singable melody with understanding of the singing voice. It ended: “The orchestration is brilliant and very colorful, with lots of trumpet fanfares complementing the festive spirit of the music”.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h John Rutter : Magnificat ( English ). Oxford University Press , 1990.
  2. ↑ a b c John Rutter / Magnificat for soprano, chorus & orchestra ( English ) Allmusic . Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  3. ^ A b John Rutter : John Rutter (b. 1945) / Gloria • Magnificat • Te Deum ( English ) Naxos. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ a b John Rutter / Requiem & Magnificat ( English , PDF) collegium.co.uk. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  5. ^ John Rutter / Magnificat . Oxford University Press . Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ Of a Rose, a lovely Rose ( English ) Oxford University Press . Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ Bob Briggs : John Rutter (b. 1945) / Magnificat (1990) / Brother Heinrich's Christmas - A Fable with music (1982) ( English ) musicweb-international.com. Retrieved January 27, 2014.