Composer

:

Adrian Batten

Genre

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

6:35

Adrian Batten was an English composer and organist who lived from 1591 to 1637. He was a chorister at Winchester Cathedral and later became the organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. Batten is known for his choral music, which includes anthems, services, and motets. One of Batten's most famous works is his Fourth Evening Service, which was composed in the early 17th century. The service is written for a choir of four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) and is intended to be performed during the evening prayer service in the Anglican Church. The Fourth Evening Service is divided into five movements: Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis, Creed, Responses, and Collect. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are the two main canticles of the evening prayer service, and they are sung in every Anglican church around the world. The Magnificat is a hymn of praise that is based on the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, when she visited her cousin Elizabeth. The Nunc Dimittis is a hymn of thanksgiving that is based on the words of Simeon, a devout Jew who saw the baby Jesus in the temple. Batten's setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis is characterized by its simplicity and elegance. The music is written in a homophonic style, which means that all four voices sing the same words at the same time. The harmonies are mostly diatonic, which means that they are based on the notes of the major and minor scales. The Creed, Responses, and Collect are shorter movements that are sung in between the canticles. The Creed is a statement of faith that summarizes the beliefs of the Anglican Church. The Responses are short prayers that are sung by the choir in response to the officiant's words. The Collect is a prayer that is said at the end of the service. Overall, Batten's Fourth Evening Service is a beautiful example of English choral music from the early 17th century. Its simplicity and elegance make it a popular choice for choirs around the world, and it continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences today.

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