Saint Pancras Magnificat & Nunc dimitti Cover Image

Saint Pancras Magnificat & Nunc dimitti: SATBB, a cappella Choral Octavo

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Saint Pancras Magnificat & Nunc dimitti Cover Image
Saint Pancras Magnificat & Nunc dimitti: SATBB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Saint Pancras Magnificat & Nunc dimitti: SATBB, a cappella Choral Octavo

By Roxanna Panufnik

Item: 98-EP72581
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Description

Delighted that the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music commissioned this work, when I actually sat down to start writing it I panicked. It was only 2 years since I had last set the same text and was finding it impossible to avoid hearing the music of my first setting when looking at the text again. A combination of advice from my ever-helpful Facebook friends and the fact that this was a cappella and in Latin (whereas the first one had been accompanied by organ and set mostly in English) helped and soon I was flying. A change of mood also helped - previously, I had focused on the nervous anticipation and awe of the Virgin Mary but this time there is unabashed excitement! Fanfare-like homophonic declarations are combined with loving, gently flowing polyphonic passages.

In the Nunc Dimittis, Simoen's joyous words on the fulfilment of his prophecy of Jesus's arrival are shared through the various voice parts, starting quietly and stately and becoming more passionate.

This work was commissioned by Robin Gardner and Chris & Kate Batchelor - Deo Gratias - first performed on 14 May 2014, by the Choir of St Pancras Church directed by Christopher Batchelor, and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 as part of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music. I would like to thank my Facebook friends and Canon Michael Hampel again, for helping me leave the music my first Mag & Nunc behind, LFCCM and those mentioned above for commissioning the work.

RP 23rd April, 2014

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: EDITION PETERS
Page Count: 28
ISBN10: 0-57700-851-6
ISBN13: 979-0-57700-851-6
UPC: 9790577008516
SKU: 98-EP72581

More about this title

About the Composer: Roxanna Panufnik

Roxanna Panufnik is a British composer known for her accessible, emotionally direct choral and instrumental works. Her compositions have been performed by major ensembles and orchestras worldwide, and she has received numerous commissions from churches, festivals, and cultural institutions across the UK and beyond.

Panufnik's writing is marked by clarity of texture and a gift for melody. She frequently draws on sacred texts and liturgical traditions, creating music that serves both the church musician and the concert audience. Her works span from chamber pieces to large-scale orchestral writing, but her choral compositions remain central to her output.

Why we love this

Panufnik has written two completely different settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and this second version captures something genuinely joyful and celebratory. The shift in mood from her earlier work gives singers fresh musical material to explore, and the combination of homophonic fanfare-like sections with flowing polyphony creates genuine variety without becoming technically overwhelming. For church musicians seeking contemporary sacred music that feels both substantial and sincerely expressive, this is a sophisticated choice that respects both the liturgical text and the singers.

What to expect

The Magnificat radiates infectious excitement and celebration, with bright homophonic moments punctuating passages of intricate, gentle weaving between parts. The Nunc Dimittis charts a gradual intensification, beginning with quiet dignity and building toward genuine passion as Simeon's joy in witnessing the prophecy fulfilled spreads through the singers.

Who it's for

This work is ideal for SATBB choirs with secure reading skills and comfort with a cappella singing. The piece serves church choirs preparing substantial contemporary liturgical music, as well as concert ensembles looking for engaging sacred repertoire that avoids pastiche and cliché.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the contrast between homophonic declarations and polyphonic passages by bringing out the fanfare moments with clarity and brightness, then allowing the flowing sections to bloom naturally without dropping dynamic energy.
  • Start the Nunc Dimittis with genuine restraint and stateliness in the opening; the piece's arc depends on this quiet foundation before passion builds across the voice parts.
  • Shape the distribution of text across different voice parts in the Nunc Dimittis as a gradual unfolding rather than abrupt sectional shifts, so the work feels like a cohesive journey toward climax.

How to use it

Pair this with other contemporary sacred works on a liturgical concert or Choral Evensong service, where its freshness will stand out against more familiar settings of these canticles. It also works well as the centerpiece of a concert exploring different approaches to the same text, or as a standalone feature for a choir demonstrating its range in contemporary music.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining intonation in a cappella singing across extended harmonic passages
  • Balancing polyphonic independence with ensemble blend
  • Shaping longer phrases without breath marks to support musical momentum
  • Responding to text-driven emotional arcs and dynamic contrasts

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