21st Century Magnificat: A multi-movement choral work for full chorus, soloists and chamber orchestra. Notes by William Copper, contemporary choral composer, on a work current now: a setting of the Canticle of Mary from the Gospel according to Saint Luke.

One sacred project that I have been planning for some time is now underway, with completion targeted for spring, and performance in the Advent or Christmas season, 2003. The structure of the Magnificat is somewhat in Bach's style with each line or phrase getting a varied musical treatment. There will be movements for full chorus and movements for soloists, with a total duration of 20 minutes or more. The accompaniment is a chamber orchestra (strings, single woodwinds, 2 trumpets and timpani).

This is one of two big sacred projects currently underway, the other being a Mysteries of Light Mass. The remainder of the text of this letter is similar in both descriptions.

When I proposed a School Commission for my Humorous Songs of last year and my new Sea Songs of this fall, asking for a few choruses to jointly sponsor the creation of the new work, it proved marvelously stimulating and successful all around. I wrote more and better music with the back-and-forth emails with potential and participating directors, got a little money, and premieres by fine choruses; the choruses got a commissioned work, dedication in the published score, and rights of premiere, all for a much smaller cost than a full commission, and -- maybe most important -- they knew exactly what they were getting before committing to pay for it or premiere it.

So, responding to success with more success, now I wonder if choruses with a sacred orientation would like to participate in the same plan. This would be for professional or community choruses planning a sacred-music program for next season, or church music organizations capable of mounting a full-scale concert with chorus and chamber orchestra.

If more than one chorus is involved, the premiere would be planned to be around the same time of year, though not necessarity the very same day.

You would have credit in the published scores and assistance with publicity. Please review a working draft of the first four pages of the Magnificat in pdf format (or see at the bottom of this page for reduced GIF format pages), and a draft recording in mp3 format .   Also see information on full commissions , should you have your own ideas of what music you need!

Please email if you have an interest; I can send you samples and drafts as they become available. You would not be expected to pay for anything or commit to the project until a good deal of the music is completed and you have ample time to review it.