Gloria after Finzi’s Magnificat & Nunc dimittis

Finzi’s Magnificat was composed to commission in 1952 for the choir of Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. Intended for a service of Christmas Vespers it therefore excluded the Gloria, closing with a hushed, polyphonic Amen. The Finzi Trust recently invited David Bednall to compose a setting of the Gloria for interpolation in the Magnificat, together with a new setting of the Nunc dimittis, so that the Finzi setting can take a full place in the liturgical repertoire of evening canticle settings. David Bednall explains that “the Gloria is based almost entirely on material from the Magnificat and is in no way intended to be a completion or correction of Finzi’s work”. The Nunc dimittis is entirely the work of David Bednall, including a different Gloria setting, and admirably complements Finzi’s Magnificat in scoring, style and effect. The new publication is a significant addition to the repertoire for service and concert use alike, especially for festal occasions. The first performances were given at Gloucester Cathedral, in March 2016 and at the Three Choirs Festival the following July. For complete performance (Finzi’s original work plus Bednall’s additions) copies of the separately published Magnificat (ISMN 979-0-060-06441-8) will also be required. For performers’ convenience Finzi’s Amen is reproduced following the Magnificat Gloria in David Bednall’s score.