Benedictus [original Semi-Staged Version]

1980 op. 282A Oratorio

Dramatic oratorio for tenor soloist, speaker,SATB chorus, solo viola and orchestra [first performance version, not publicly available] To listen to an excerpt refer to opus 282.

Duration
1hr 5mins
Instrumentation
Solo tenor, male speaker (St. Benedict), SATB chorus, semi-chorus, trebles (optional), solo viola. (NB the viola part is demanding and best played by a soloist separate from the orchestra. In a cathedral performance the Prelude to part 1 should be performed from the west end, the back of the nave, the Introduction to Part 2 from the central chancel screen crossing, and the Epilogue from the ambulatory behind the altar, the idea being to convey the progress of the novice.) Orchestra: 2(=picc).1.ca.0.2 - 2220 - perc(2): timp/t.bell/xyl/2 susp.cym/cyms/glsp/SD/mar/tgl/tam-t; pno (=cel); organ (opt.); harp; strings

Recordings