Melissa Dunphy

Commissioned by the Choir of St. Paul's, Burlingame, California (Susan Jane Matthews, Director of Music), in celebration of the life of Marcia McCowin (1952-2020) for the 2022 Wells Cathedral Residency.

"Australian-American Melissa Dunphy's name is not well known in the UK, but it should be. There is a timeless feeling about her Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, where passages of beautiful repose swell into more passionate word painting." [RSCM Church Music Quarterly]

"Dunphy's setting entitled for St Paul's Burlingame (at just over 10 minutes in total) was commissioned quite recently - to celebrate the life of Marcia McCowin - and was first heard at the church in California after which it is named. The ending of the Gloria was for me one of the highlights. The Programme Note aptly characterises the work as 'often modal', with references to 'a mood of calm contemplation' and to tranquillity punctuated by more intense moments." [Convivium Records]

Magnificat
Book of Common Prayer, 1662

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden:
For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat:
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things.
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath helped his servant Israel:
As he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and 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.

Nunc Dimittis
Book of Common Prayer, 1662

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.

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.

Performances

• 21 Nov, 2024: Harvard University Choir at Harvard Memorial Church, Cambridge, MA
• 12 May, 2024: Saint Michael's Choir at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Dallas, TX
• 23 Mar, 2024: Gainsborough Choral Society at All Saints' Church, Gainsborough, England
• 03 Mar, 2024: St. Luke's Chancel Choir at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA
• 25 Jan, 2024: Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
• 28 Oct, 2023: Luminatus at Downing Place United Reformed Church, Downing Place, Cambridge, England
• 24 Oct, 2023: Schola Cantorum at School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN
• 05 Mar, 2023: St. James Cathedral Choir at St. James Cathedral, Chicago, IL
• 08 Jan, 2023: Choir of Church of St. John the Divine at Church of St. John the Divine, Victoria, BC, Canada
• 18 Dec, 2022: St. Paul's Episcopal Choir at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, NY
• 22 Jul, 2022: The Choir of St. Paul's Burlingame in Residency at Wells Cathedral at Wells Cathedral, Wells, United Kingdom
• 19 Dec, 2021: Choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Burlingame, CA
• 05 Dec, 2021: Choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Burlingame, CA
• 24 Oct, 2021: Choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Burlingame, CA