Benedicite

Vocal score

Forces or Category: SATB, children's chorus, & orchestra

Orchestration: 2 bn, 4 hn, 2 tpt, hp, org, timp, perc, str Percussion: glock, sus cym, bowed cym, clash cym, tam or large gong, waterphone (opt)

for mixed chorus, children's choir, and small orchestra
The words are from the Book of Common Prayer, with three additional movements ...

Benedicite

Vocal score

Description

for mixed chorus, children's choir, and small orchestra
The words are from the Book of Common Prayer, with three additional movements especially suitable for the children's choir. These three movements are also published separately under the title Bless the Lord.
Orchestral and vocal material is available on hire.

Programme Notes:

Benedicite is simply the Latin title for All the world, praise the Lord. The English Prayer Book takes thirty-three verses to say so; I chose a few of the old verses and added a sprinkling of new verses to make the following eleven movements:
1. O all ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord
A dance of joy to the rhythm of trumpets and drums.
2. Green Things
In a lilting five-four time, the old verse is amplified to include plant forms like 'herbs and heathers'.
3. Sun and Moon
An attempt to capture in sound that sense of silence and eternity, not to say human insignificance, that we feel when looking up into the heavens on a starry night.
4. Badgers and Hedgehogs
In the first of three sections for the younger singers, some of the animals that Noah forgot to mention have a rumbustious time.
5. Ice and Snow
Whilst we sleep, nimble Jack Frost darts round the village with his icicle brush. We shiver in winter's special beauty.
6. Whales and Waters is a drop in the ocean.
Our voices and instruments can only hint at the vast unknown. But in the middle, I transcribe into the strings the plaintive song of the majestic whale, captured on tape by the British Antarctic Survey.
7. Butterflies and Moths
The youngsters remind us and themselves that life is fragile and transient, wafted away on the breeze. So we enjoy and give thanks for a myriad of colourful moments.
8. Thunder and Lightning
Over a short repeating bass line, a storm threatens, and the frightening elemental powers give way to the calm waters of:
9. Spirits and Souls
In a brief reference to earlier music, we think of all those absolutely smashing people of our generation who are good to know, and of those of earlier times whose lives can serve as a model. Not least of course:
10. Grannies and Grandads
11. O let the earth bless the Lord
The world has come full circle, and the final hymn of praise recalls the opening fanfares.
© Andrew Carter
Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press

Benedicite

Vocal score

Andrew Carter

Benedicite

Vocal score

Andrew Carter

Composer Information

Andrew Carter (b.1939)

Andrew Carter was born in 1939 into a Leicestershire family of tower and handbell ringers. Following a music degree at the University of Leeds, he joined York Minster Choir, and was subsequently Director of Music at the Bar Convent Grammar School, where he achieved his first successes as a choir trainer. His wealth of experience of directing both mixed-voice and upper-voice choirs has given him a deep understanding of the voice, expressed by a lyricism and sense of drama underpinned by distinctive, often bitter-sweet harmonies. His vast collection of anthems and Christmas carols, together with a substantial number of large-scale choral works, have earned him a reputation as one of Britain's most respected contemporary choral composers.

Andrew Carter's website

Benedicite

Vocal score

Andrew Carter

Reviews and Awards

"It is definitely a work that . . . should be part of any choir's repertoire." - Mastersinger

"Andrew Carter's abitility to write idiomatic choral music in a personal style has greatly enriched contemporary music-making. His Benedicite has now attained classic status...graceful rhythms and orchestration, music that never outstays its welcome." - Donald Webster, Yorkshire Post

"[Benedicite] exactly fitted the bill and was greatly enjoyed by the choirs, orchestra, and audience. I am sure that [it] will recieve many more performances in the future as it is exactly what's needed in the choral repertoire." - Philip Ledger

"This is tuneful, joyous music, well thought out, with nice contrasts of mood, tempo, and orchestration between movements." - Nicholas Bannan, Music Teacher

"One of the most absorbing and enjoyable premieres I have heard in years...rewarding equally for performers and audience alike." - Neil Butterworth, Scottish Review