Composer

:

William Smith

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

Average_duration

:

1:01

'Preces' is a choral work composed by William Smith, an English composer and organist who lived from 1603 to 1645. The piece was composed in the early 17th century, but the exact date of composition is unknown. It is believed to have been written during Smith's tenure as the organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, where he served from 1626 until his death. 'Preces' is a setting of the Preces and Responses, a liturgical text used in Anglican and other Protestant churches. The text consists of a series of prayers and responses that are recited or sung by the choir and congregation during a church service. Smith's setting of the Preces and Responses is divided into several movements, each of which corresponds to a different part of the liturgy. The first movement of 'Preces' is the Preces proper, which consists of a series of petitions addressed to God. The choir sings the petitions, and the congregation responds with a short phrase such as "Lord, have mercy" or "Grant us thy peace." The second movement is the Responses, which consists of a series of short phrases that are sung by the choir and repeated by the congregation. The third movement of 'Preces' is the Lord's Prayer, which is sung by the choir in unison. The fourth movement is the Collect, which is a short prayer that is recited by the priest or minister. In Smith's setting, the Collect is sung by the choir in four-part harmony. The final movement of 'Preces' is the Gloria Patri, which is a short hymn of praise that is sung at the end of the liturgy. Smith's setting of the Gloria Patri is in four-part harmony, and it features a lively and joyful melody that is typical of English choral music of the period. Overall, 'Preces' is a beautiful and expressive choral work that showcases Smith's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the Anglican liturgy. Its movements are characterized by rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and a sense of reverence and devotion that is typical of English church music of the early 17th century.

More....