Word: magnificat
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...duchy of Mantua, for whom he was court composer. The Vespers is one of the daily hours of Roman Catholic worship, and Monteverdi's Vespers contains the texts of all of the essential prayers: the opening versicle and response, five psalms to the Virgin Mary, the hymn, and the Magnificat. Interwoven in these works is a collection of motets and an instrumental sonata...
...follow the Gregorian chant, but with great variations. On the other hand, the motets employs a style radical for those times: the "monody" or duet writing, which has a bolder and more expressive sound. Particularly beautiful is the transition from his hymn Ave maris stella (XII) to the concluding Magnificat (XIII). These two movements exhibit all the richness of sound and tonal imagination that make the Vespers such an outstanding work...
...singers. It was especially interesting to note how the two players of the violini da brazzo (precursors to the modern violin) held their instruments in the crook of the arm, rather than under the chin. These two violini had a notable interplay of melody in verse seven of the Magnificat. Also, the instrumental sonata (Sancta Maria, XI) provided the audience with the pleasure of hearing the Ensemble alone, and basking in the clarion sound of the ancient instruments...
...that marks this group. Especially in Psalm 112 (IV), it was delightful to hear how such a large choir could sing with such precision and in such a light and dancing style. The soprano section sounded particularly beautiful as a foil to the ancient instruments. Verse five of the Magnificat featured a marvelous interplay of male and female voice echoing one another. The whole of the Magnificat was a shout of triumph for this group, as they swept the audience up in the excitement of the concluding chorus...
...surprising that your otherwise comprehensive article on Mary [RELIGION, Dec. 23] failed to mention a central affirmation of Christian liturgy and belief for countless religious people, namely the Magnificat. To quote from Luke 1: "And Mary said ... For behold, henceforth, all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me ... He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree." In a world with a deep chasm between the rich and the poor, this biblical witness of Mary's song of praise becomes ever more important...