Benedic Domine

Those of you who are still around from the old forum may recall an earlier version of this piece from back then. Unfortunately the forum switchover made the music files inaccessible, and so after making a few revisions I've decided to re-upload the piece. This anthem is scored for SATTB chorus, organ and two trumpets, which are intended to be placed antiphonally at the side of the performance space. The piece started out as instrumental music for brass ensemble, but I decided to set a Latin prayer with voices instead, retaining the trumpets. It is intended for performance by amateur choirs, hence the choral writing is fairly simple and the polyphonic interest confined to the instrumental parts. The prayer is essentially one of thanks for material gifts:

In nomine Patris, et Filio et Spiritus Sanctus. Benedic, Domine, nos et haec tua dona, quae de tua largitate sumus sumpturi. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

(In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts, which from your bounty we are about to receive. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Benedic Domine

Cool harmonies. Nice.

Two remarks. The meter is difficult to follow. All the ties feel like 4/4 measure key is just one quarter off. Why is this?

The second thing is about the organ. (you are an organist?) Idiomatic writing, except maybe for the very frequent stemcrossings with the pedal. Often the pedal is registered a bit heavier than the manuals, and not seldom sounds an octave lower than the manuals too. You grant the organist freedom in his stops. But why write the pedal higher than the manual in ms 41. Esp ms 47 could be rather muddy. If the organ would have a 16' stop on the manual I would definitely use it, because I think the music ask for a full bold strong sound. Except here, because it will result in something too muddy... Same around ms 53ish

The issue with the organ pedals is probably a result of my rather limited experience with having different instruments. As the organ I almost always play on has only 16" stops for the pedals (just Bourdon and Bourdon Major, it's a small instrument) you'll understand why this is the default organ sound I 'hear' when writing. So yes, I would definitely advocate adding softer 16" pedal stops to the mixture. You are right about bar 45-47; this could certainly be put down the octave or even played by the left hand. Bar 53 though is actaully the melody (possibly add a stronger pedal stop to bring it out?) so I feel it justifies being in such a high register. Perhaps I'm trying to write too much like an orchestra though.

As for the odd meter, well you know I dislike music that is too constrained by the barline. In this music I like the sense of motion that starting notes on 'weak' beats gives. I feel the music would not move forwards as well were every phrase to start and finish on a strong beat and have more regular-sounding phrases, although this may make it slightly more difficult to sing.

I think there is nothing wrong with your orchestral approach to the organ. I even think that is as it supposed to be. But I would add some clear remarks concerning the stops, ie. more than the remark on the front page.

Supose you had a medium organ at your disposal. Decide what stops your want, and what where. That is then an indication of your intend. Stops, as I see it, are never to be followed to the letter, but an nice indication, which can be disregarded at will.

The most striking example might be a work of Jehan Alain. His autograph had the remark ppp and only one gambe 8' as stop. His sister, Marie Clair, who became his foremost interpreter altered that in fff, with a full tutti.

People sometimes even take the liberty of playing a single voice an octave higher or lower with a 4' or 16' stop, just to imply a different tone color in the original stop.

The odd meter is fine. But for example, from ms 19 until 28, the accent is in the 2nd and 4th beat of the 4/4 measure key. The 5/4 evens that out, there is a continuous rhythm of only halves from ms 19 until at least 30 (adding only some passing notes). The audience does not hear the 5/4 at all. it sounded like a 2/2 all the time. Well. for me that is...

Just a little thing: In the lyrics you say, "Sumus sumptari."

The actual lyrics are "Sumus Sumpturi," with a 'U' rather than an 'A.'

Otherwise, I like it a lot. I've never heard this prayer put to music, and I think it's a great idea.