Nunc Dimittis

Using the 1662 translation from the Book of Common Prayer, Helvey has crafted a beautiful and moving setting of Simeon_x0019_ s declaration upon his encounter with the infant Christ. The piece, for a cappella SATB choir, has an effective musical arc, going from a syllabic setting lower in the tessitura to a soaring, more melismatic character toward the end (especially apparent on the words _x001C_ light_x001D_ and _x001C_ glory_x001D_ ). The part writing is clear and openly voiced and there is occasional use of shifting meter to accommodate word stress. An optional English-language Gloria Patri is included if a Doxology is desired.