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        • Roxanna Panufnik

        • Lancing Beatitudes (2024)
          (for SSAATTBB and organ)

        • Peters Edition Limited (World)

        Commissioned by Lancing College for the 175th anniversary of Lancing College and first performed on Saturday 25th May 2024 by Lancing College Choir with Philip White-Jones (organ) directed by Alexander Mason.


        Unavailable for performance.

        • SSAATTBB; org
        • SSAATTBB
        • 5 min

        Programme Note

        Lancing Beatitudes

        When Alexander Mason, Director of Music at Lancing College, approached me with a 175th anniversary commission, he requested the Beatitudes (the solemn blessings which open the Sermon on the Mount) because of the College’s motto ‘Beati mundo corde’ (‘Blessed are the pure in heart’). He also requested some plainsong in the piece and having recently fallen in love with the gorgeous 9th century hymn ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’ (attributed to Frankish Benedictine Monk Rabanus Maurus), I was only too happy to oblige.

        The texts seem to complement each other right from the start – the plainsong opening with ‘Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,’ introducing the Beatitudes eight blessings. The desperation of ‘they which do hunger and thirst’ with imploring ‘To thee, the Comforter, we cry’. The Beatitudes finish with ‘for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ as the plainsong extolls ‘perfect faith for evermore’.

        This piece is dedicated to Lancing College on its 175th anniversary.

        Veni Creator Spiritus,
        Mentes tuorum visita:
        Imple superna gratia
        Quae to creasti pectora.

        Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
        Vouchsafe within our souls to rest;
        Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
        And fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

        Blessed are the poor in spirit:
        for there is the kingdom of heaven.
        Blessed are they that mourn:
        for they shall be comforted.
        Blessed are the meek:
        for they shall inherit the earth.

        Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
        Qui diceris Paraclitus,
        Altissimi donum Dei,
        To thee, the Comforter, we cry,
        To Thee, the Gift of God Most High, after righteousness:
        after righteousness:
        Fons vicus, ignis, caritas,
        The Fount of life, the Fire of love,
        for they shall be filled.

        Et spiritalis unctio.

        The soul’s Anointing from above.

        Tu septiformis munere,
        Digitus paternae dexterae,
        Tu rite promissum Patris,
        Sermone ditans gutura.

        The Sevenfold gifts of grace are Thine,
        O Finger of the Hand Divine;
        True promise of the Father Thou,
        Who dost the tongue with speech endow.

        Blessed are the merciful:
        for they shall obtain mercy.
        Blessed are the pure in heart:
        for they shall see God.
        Blessed are the peacemakers:
        for the shall be called the Children of God.

        Blessed are they which are persecuted
        Deo Patri sit gloria,
        Et Filio, qui a mortuis,
        Praise we the Father and the Son,
        And Holy Spirit, with them One;
        for righteousness’ sake:
        Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
        And may the Son on us bestow
        for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

        In Saeculorum saecula.
        Amen.

        In perfect faith for evermore.

        RP, 25th October, ’23

        Translation credits: Beatitudes: King James Version of The Bible
        Veni Creator Spiritus translation: Edward Caswall (1814 – 1878)