This setting was written to provide a set of evening canticles that provides one part for male singers.

Having recently edited a new edition of Byrd’s Mass in Three Parts, I had the enjoyable experience of unpicking Byrd’s original printed part books from c.1593, held in the library at Christ Church, Oxford and available on the Digital Bodleian website. Writing for only three voices was raised to an incredible standard by Byrd and I don’t think surpassed by anyone. Hence my feeling of apprehension on starting work on this setting!

I hope that the words of Ss Mary and Simeon have been modestly clothed in something that can be sung by choirs who are keen to learn a new setting that provides some challenges and hopefully a satisfactory place in their worship.