Work
Sidney Sussex Service : for alto and baritone soloists, SATB choir and organ
by Brett McKern (2008)
Score
Sidney Sussex service : for alto and baritone soloists, SATB choir and organ / music by Brett M McKern.
Library shelf no. 782.5525/MCK 8 [Not for loan]
Work Overview
The text is the 1662 Book of Common Prayer version.
This setting was commissioned by Pádraig Byrne for his wife Hilary's thirtieth birthday. Pádraig and Hilary met when they were both undergraduate students singing in the Chapel Choir at Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge. This is from whence the setting takes its name. Most Oxbridge Chapel Choirs sing Evensong more than other forms of services and thus many settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. This is why it was decided to set this text for this commission. Another shape that the work took from the commissioner is that with Hilary an alto and Pádraig a bass, the solo voices of alto in the Magnificat and Baritone in the Nunc Dimittis developed. In the Magnificat, there is a quirky organ ostinato at times, and Mary comes across as a gentle, slightly innocent young lady, yet still a teenager as she almost dialogues with the chorus in this setting. The Nunc Dimittis sees the soloist forming a three-part ensemble with the tenors and basses before 'all people' come in with the full choir. There is some commonality in the ending of the Gloria Patri in both movements.
Work Details
Year: 2008
Instrumentation: Alto solo, baritone solo, SATB choir, organ.
Duration: 5 min.
Difficulty: Medium
Commission note: Commissioned by Pádraig Byrne for his wife Hilary on the occasion of her 30th Birthday
First performance: by The Cathedral Singers, Brett McKern, Andrej Kouznetsov — 9 Nov 08. Evensong, Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney.
Subjects
- In the form/style of: Christian music
Performances of this work
12 Apr 15: Church of St John the Evangelist, Gordon, NSW. Featuring St John's Evensong Choir.
9 Nov 08: Evensong, Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney.. Featuring The Cathedral Singers, Brett McKern, Andrej Kouznetsov.
User reviews
Be the first to share your thoughts, opinions and insights about this work.
To post a comment please login.