18/11/07

I attended the Autumn Festival at Monmouth Cathedral on Saturday 17th November 2007.
Please can someone explain to me WHY the Magnificat is now sung antiphonally.

The Magnificat is a New Testament Canticle not an Old Testament psalm.
I was taught that psalms are sung with alternate verses, cantors and then congregation. Whilst canticles are after the first verse sung in unison, everyone together.

The music copy of the Guild Office clearly states that after the first verse the Magnificat should be sung FULL i.e. BY EVERYBODY. 

Can anyone advise??

Andrew R Mays

REPLIES

18/11/07 - Fr. David Moore

Dear Andrew,

I think that the singing of the Magnificat antiphonally is quite common outside the confines of the G.S.S.
However, I am mystified myself why in recent years the Canticle is sung in that way by G.S.S. Chapters and at G.S.S. Festivals.

I will look into it.

Father David Moore.

19/11/07 - Ian Marsh

At All Saints Margaret Street on a Sunday evening the mag is always sung
choir only in the setting set by the chosen composer for that evening
eg; Morley, Gibbons, Stanford etc. The only congregational participation
is in the making of the sign of the cross at the beginning.

Ian Marsh

23/11/07 - Peter Graham

Just an interesting variation surely! Nothing to be concerned about.
Peter Graham
E-mail: peter.graham@blueyonder.co.uk