Sunday, morning, December 8 in the 9:30am Worship Service
The Magnificat text has frequently been set to music from the earliest known in medieval chant to contemporary versions. Through musical language, composers express what they believe the text means to them.
Coming directly from Luke 1:46-55, Magnificat (Song of Mary) is a personal expression of joy and thanksgiving for the fulfillment of God’s promise of redemption.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, rejoices at the favor bestowed on her despite her lowly state. She sings praises to God, recalls the mercies shown to Israel and sings of the Incarnation’s fulfillment of God’s ancient promise to Abraham.
In five movements, Taylor Scott Davis expresses all of Mary’s emotions through powerful, exuberant and joyful choruses, tensions between singers and instruments, and simple and beautiful melodies.
Taylor Scott Davis’s music has been described as “sonically luxurious”, memorable and inspiring of hope. In demand as a composer, he has written and arranged for choirs, orchestras and chamber ensembles. Magnificat received its premier recording by the 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8. The music is scored for choir, soprano solo, and chamber orchestra.
In April 2025, the Plymouth Chancel Choir will participate in a massed choir performance of this work at Carnegie Hall.