Lansing McLoskey

S y m p h o n i æ

S a c r æ

Lansing McLoskey

Symphoniæ Sacræ I. Magnificat p.1 6:00

II. Gaudeamus p.33 3:15

III. Orbis factor p.45 4:00

IV. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus p.78 3:25

V. Alleluia p.88 1:50

Total duration: Approx. 18 minutes

INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes (2. dbl picc)

2 clarinets in B♭

2 oboes (2. dbl English horn)

2 bassoons

1 contrabassoon

4 horns in F

2 trumpets (notated in C, though B♭ can be used)

1 tuba

3 percussion: snare, b. drum, 2 sus. cym, tam-tam, 3 timp, 3 high toms (or congas), 3 low toms (hi,

med, low), triangle, tambourine, slapstick, windchimes (preferably glass, not a Mark Tree)

strings

PERFORMANCE NOTES:

Score is notated in C.

Accidentals hold throughout the measure, though in highly chromatic passage courtesy accidentals are

given.

q = q at all meter changes unless otherwise indicated.

= senza misura, or “without measure.”

= repeat figure in box, retaining the same tempo, until cut-off.

Suggested percussion setup:

In die tribulationis meae, clamavi ad te et exaudisti me.

NOTES:

As a performer of Renaissance and medieval music with a particular interest in early sacred music, I felt it

would be an interesting endeavor to create an orchestral work with incorporated the ancient ideals and

techniques of the sacred symphony (symphonia sacra) in a wholly contemporary setting.

Though choosing to omit the choral parts traditionally included in the Renaissance and Baroque sacred

symphonies, each movement of the piece is based on a text selected from the traditional Latin liturgy.

With the exception of a quotation in the second movement of the chant “Gaudeamus nova cum leticia” (a

St. Martial versus Trotter from c.1050-1150), there are no direct melodic or harmonic references to

specific pieces. Nevertheless, the entire work is written in the spirit of early sacred music, with particular

emphasis on the organum of Leonin and Perotin, and the antiphonal and polychoral techniques of

Gabrieli and Heinrich Schütz.

Symphoniæ Sacræ was the winner of the Hans J. Salter Composition Award and the Phi Kappa Phi Award.

TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS:

I. MAGNIFICAT (Luke 1:46-55)

Magnificat anima mea Dominum: et exsultavit spiritus

meus in Deo, salutari meo. Quia respexit humilitatem

ancillae suae: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes

generationes. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et

sanctum nomen eius. Et misericordia eius a progenie in

progenies timentibus eum. Fecit potentiam in bracchio

suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. Deposuit

potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. Esurientes

implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes. Suscepit Israel,

puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae. Sicut

locuts est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in

saecula. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat

in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.

Amen.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath

rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the

low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from

henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he

that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is

his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from

generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with

his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination

of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their

seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the

hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent

empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in

remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers,

to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.. Glory be to the

Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. as it was

in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world

without end. Amen.

II. GAUDEAMUS nova cum leticia. Fulget dies

hodierna, nata luce sempiterna. Nova dies, nova

natalicia, Novus annus, nova hec sollemnia, Nova decent

gaudia Nove laudis cantica.

Let us rejoice with new joy! Today shines forth, born in

eternal light; new day, new birth, new year, new festivity;

These call for new rejoicing, new songs of praise.

III. ORBIS FACTOR, rex aeternae eleison.

Creator of the world, Eternal King, have mercy.

IV. SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS,

Dominus Deus Sabaoth.

Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.

Hosanna in excelsis.

Holy, Holy, Holy,

Lord God of Hosts.

Full are heaven and earth of glory thy.

Hosanna in highest.

V. ALLELUIA