Ely Canticles
(Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis)

The Ely Canticles were written at the request of Neil Porter-Thaw, Director of Music at King’s School, Ely for a singing day at Ely Cathedral in 2010. The Canticles are set for upper voices and organ and have been recorded more recently by the Pembroke College Girls’ Choir conducted by Anna Lapwood.

Anna Lapwood writes “This uplifting setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis was the first set of canticles the girls ever learnt and was sung at the first Evensong of the Girls’ Choir. The choristers were shocked to learn that there was another composer called Parry, and quickly took to referring to Ben as ‘the real Parry’. This is one of my favourite pieces to conduct because of the smiles that are on the girls’ faces while they are singing it – the positive energy really is infectious. I find the Nunc Dimittis to be heartbreakingly beautiful; there is a lovely moment at ‘to be a light’ where the writing suddenly breaks into harmony. I remember us singing this through during a video rehearsal in the first lockdown and one of the girls started crying at that moment because she said that chord made her realise what she was missing by not being able to sing in person. We sang this piece in our first rehearsal back after each lockdown, and there were happy tears every time.”

My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me;
And holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
Throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm;
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
And hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel;
As he promised to our forefathers
Abraham and his seed for ever. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be.
World without end. Amen 

oOo 

Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace
According to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles,
And the be the glory of Thy people Israel. 

GLORIA