Nunc Dimittis

I stumbled upon this text while reading about Sergei Rachmaninov's  Russian-language setting of it, which is the sixth movement of his Vespers, "Nyne otpushchayeshi." 

I was inspired by how he used both harmony and texture to paint the calm, 

meditative nature of the text and its use as an Evening prayer. As I continued to examine the text, I began to feel its emotion and hear music in the words that led to my desire to create a setting of my own. The biblical context of this text is a prayer of praise and thanks. An old, suffering man (Simeon) wished for death to achieve peace at last. Upon seeing the newborn Jesus taken to the temple to be baptized, Simeon says these words of prayer to exalt and thank God for fulfilling the prophecy which he had promised would occur before Simeon could be released to death; the coming of the Son of God.

In setting this text, I attempted to capture not just its meaning but also its meditative nature.

The composition is designed to progress as a journey of sorts, containing a sense of longing and

ending with hope and relief. The piece reaches a joyous climax, illustrating the experience of witnessing Jesus’s long-awaited arrival. I hope that both performer and audience will experience the feeling of that journey.

SATB A Cappella w/ divisi

Latin Text:

 Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine,

 secundum verbum tuum in pace:

Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum

Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:

Lumen ad revelationem gentium, 

et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. Amen.

English Translation: 

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant 

depart in peace according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles

 and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Amen.

2011

ca. 4 mins 30 seconds

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/nunc-dimittis-19953145.html