Composer

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Arthur Wills

Style

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Magnificat

Average_duration

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4:11

"Nunc Dimitis" is a choral work composed by Arthur Wills, a British composer and organist. The piece was composed in 1979 and premiered in the same year at the Norwich Cathedral in England. The work is a setting of the Latin text of the Canticle of Simeon, which is traditionally sung at the end of the evening service of Compline in the Christian liturgy. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of the text. The first movement is marked "Andante con moto" and is characterized by a gentle, flowing melody in the upper voices, which is accompanied by a rich, sonorous harmony in the lower voices. The second movement is marked "Allegro moderato" and is more lively and rhythmic, with a driving pulse in the lower voices and a soaring melody in the upper voices. The final movement is marked "Lento" and is a quiet, reflective meditation on the text, with a simple, unadorned melody in the upper voices and a sparse, ethereal accompaniment in the lower voices. Overall, "Nunc Dimitis" is a beautiful and moving work that showcases Wills' skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the liturgical tradition. The piece is characterized by its rich harmonies, soaring melodies, and sensitive treatment of the text, and is a testament to the enduring power of choral music in the Christian tradition.

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