Preces and Responses (2015)
for SATB choir and celebrant, a cappella
Text: Book of Common Prayer
Duration: 5 minutes
Difficulty: 2/4
The preces and responses are a staple of English church music—a strictly liturgical work where the chanted statements by the celebrant are responded by brief choral interludes. In my own setting, written for the Choir of All Saints Cathedral in Edmonton, I wanted to restrict myself to a concise harmonic realm. The music never strays far from the tonality of A Major, but the smooth voice-leading results in many lush and unexpected harmonies.
Click here to see the complete score.
Live recording currently unavailable. MIDI available on request.
Full Text
O Lord, open thou our lips;
And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Praise ye the Lord;
The Lord’s Name be praised.
The Lord be with you;
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
O Lord, show thy mercy upon us;
And grant us thy salvation.
O Lord, save the King;
And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Endue thy Ministers with righteousness;
And make thy chosen people joyful.
O Lord, save thy people;
And bless thine inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord;
And evermore mightily defend us.*
O God, make clean our hearts within us;
And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
[The Collect of the Day]
Amen.
[The Second Collect, for Peace.]
Amen.
[The Third Collect, for Aid against all Perils.]
Amen.
* This line appears in the 1962 Book of Common Prayer, used in Canada. The 1662 version, used in the UK, instead reads “Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.” An alternative setting with this line is available on request.