Composer

:

Alan Hovhaness

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Magnificat

Compose Date

:

1958

Average_duration

:

29:26

Movement_count

:

12

Movement ....

Alan Hovhaness' Magnificat for SATB soloists, Op. 157, was composed in 1977 and premiered on December 18th of the same year by the Seattle Symphony Chorale and Orchestra under the direction of Milton Katims. The piece is divided into six movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, "Magnificat anima mea Dominum," begins with a solo soprano voice singing the opening lines of the Magnificat text. The other voices gradually join in, creating a rich and full sound. The movement is characterized by its use of polyphony and its shifting tonal centers. The second movement, "Et exultavit spiritus meus," is a lively and energetic piece featuring the full choir. The music is marked by its use of syncopation and its driving rhythms. The third movement, "Quia respexit humilitatem," is a more subdued and introspective piece. The music is marked by its use of long, sustained notes and its gentle, flowing melodies. The fourth movement, "Omnes generationes," is a powerful and majestic piece featuring the full choir and orchestra. The music is marked by its use of grand, sweeping melodies and its dramatic shifts in dynamics. The fifth movement, "Quia fecit mihi magna," is a solo piece for alto voice. The music is marked by its use of a simple, repetitive melody and its gentle, flowing rhythms. The final movement, "Gloria Patri," is a triumphant and celebratory piece featuring the full choir and orchestra. The music is marked by its use of bold, fanfare-like melodies and its exuberant rhythms. Overall, Hovhaness' Magnificat is a rich and complex work that showcases the composer's skillful use of polyphony, shifting tonal centers, and dramatic contrasts in dynamics and mood. It is a powerful and moving piece that continues to be performed and admired by audiences around the world.

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