MARGARET RIZZA. Song of Mary and Song of Simeon RSCM ANTHEMS. The Royal School of Church Music, 19 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EB

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1 RSCM ANTHEMS CODE: RES158 SATB Choir & accompaniment MARGARET RIZZA Song of Mary and Song of Simeon The Royal School of Church Music, 19 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EB

2 The Royal School of Church Music 19 The Close, Salisbury, Wilts, SP1 2EB Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) Website: Registered charity Song of Mary and Song of Simeon by Margaret Rizza First published 2009 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the copyright holders, or as expressly permitted by law. Permission to perform this work in public (except in the course of divine worship) should normally be obtained from the Performing Right Society Ltd, 29 Berners Street, London W1P 4AA, England, or its affiliated Societies in each country throughout the world, unless the owner or the occupier of the premises being used holds a licence from the Society. Permission to make a recording of this work must be obtained in advance from the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society Ltd, Elgar House, 41 Streatham High Road, London SW16 1ER, England, or its affiliated Societies in each country throughout the world. RSCM Catalogue Number RES158 Order number: C077 ISMN: M Music setting by Donald Thomson Printed in Great Britain by Caligraving Digital Print

3 SONG OF MARY The lovely words of this song, (and also those of Song of Simeon) are written by Mary Holtby and adapted from the Magnificat, (Luke 1:47 55). They express the simplicity and wonder which Mary, visiting her cousin Elizabeth, must have felt as she praised God for what was about to unfold in her life. The music, written as a very simple folk song, expresses this simplicity, joy and trust. Before singing the music however, I think it is always helpful to first recite the words so that we become familiar with them. This will make a difference to how we sing the music as there will now be an understanding of the words for themselves. We will then come to the learning of the music itself and all that that entails. There are five verses and five refrains, the refrains being in Latin: Magnificat anima mea Dominum. My soul magnifies the Lord The verses and the refrains use different combinations of voices according to the mood of the words and music. It is possible that some parish choirs do not have enough singers for the SATB parts. In this case it is possible just to keep to a unison version - the men singing unison with the women when the parts split into the SATB parts. If there are no first sopranos for the descant part in the last verse then an instrument could play this or it could be given over to the organ/keyboard. Margaret Rizza October 2009

4 Please do not photocopy this vocal score SONG OF MARY Words: MARY HOLTBY Music: MARGARET RIZZA 5 9 Andante (q = 72-76) mp Sa Text: Mary Holtby. Used with permission Music: 2009 The Royal School of Church Music Soprano Solo (or All Sopranos) mp My Lord and - viour is my song, he fills my spi - rit with de - light; to raise me up his arm is strong, the low - ly pre - cious in his sight. Mag -

5 5 1 Sopranos and Altos mp -ni - fi- cat, mag - ni - fi -cat a -ni-ma me- a, Do - mi - num. My name shall 17 live from age to age and ev - ry tongue his ser-vant bless. For mer -cy mp 21 is their he - ri - tage, whose hearts the Ho - ly One con - fess. div. Mag -

6 SONG OF SIMEON The Song of Simeon, with words adapted from the Nunc Dimittis, (Luke 2: 29 2) opens with a refrain chant which occurs throughout the song. Like the Song of Mary, it is also in Latin: Lumen ad revelationem gentium; illumina tenebras nostros Domine. A light and revelation for the Gentiles; enlighten our darkness O Lord. Here the words in the three verses reflect the prayer of Simeon as he takes from Mary the child Jesus in his arms and gives gratitude to God for granting what his heart most desired: to be in the presence of the Saviour promised by God. As in the Song of Mary, it is so important to first say the words. The transforming work can then begin as we make our journey from head to heart. The opening refrain chant leads into the men singing the first verse which is repeated SATB. As the song develops the verses and refrains are again worked, using different combinations of voices to give the relevant colours and expression. Regrading the problem of only a very small choir with no possibility of SATB, the same solution could be used as in the Song of Mary (see page ). Margaret Rizza October 2009

7 SONG OF SIMEON Words: MARY HOLTBY Music: MARGARET RIZZA Flessibile q = 66 ALL VOICES: UNISON Lu - men ad re - ve - la - ti - o - nem gen - ti - um; il - lu - mi-na te - ne - bras nos - tros Do - mi - ne. TENORS and BASSES (or SOLO) 6 un poco più mosso Lord, un poco più mosso OPTIONAL CELLO set your ser- vant free, ful fil - your an - cient vow; and peace- ful let the 9 poco rit. dim. part - ing be which seals that pro - mise now, Text: 2009 Mary Holtby. Used with permission Music: 2009 The Royal School of Church Music which seals that pro - mise now. poco rit. dim.

8 1 a tempo Lord, a tempo set your ser-vant free, ful - fil your an - cient vow and 15 rit. peace - ful let the part - ing be which seals that pro - mise now. rit.

9 MARGARET RIZZA Margaret Rizza studied in London at the Royal College of Music and the National School of Opera, completing her training in Siena and Rome. She sang professionally for 25 years and taught singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London from ; since 198 she has dedicated herself to the work of spirituality and to the wider aspect of music in the community, including prison and hospital visits. More recently she has spent a great deal of time composing and giving retreats, prayer and music days and choral workshops. Margaret was made an Associate of the Royal School of Church Music in 2001; she has worked with Live Music Now and is closely involved with the World Community of Christian Meditation. Works published by the Royal School of Church Music include: Blessed Bread - Two Communion Motets God of hope and Lord of healing Lord, all truth is from you Song of Mary & Song of Simeon The Royal School of Church Music 19 The Close, Salisbury, Wilts, SP1 2EB Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) press@rscm.com Website: Registered charity ISMN: M