other notes - Durante

Francesco Durante (1684-1755) composed two versions of his Magnificat in B Flat - the four-part version that we sing today, and a more elaborate five-part version featuring two sopranos. The composition date of either version is unknown, but both probably were written in the 1740s. Some controversy surrounds the Magnificat. Although scholars traditionally agree that Durante composed this Magnificat, in 1910 musicologist Giuseppe Radicciolli attributed the work to Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Durante’s talented pupil. That myth has followed the work ever since.

Divided into six movements, Magnificat open swith the sopranos presenting the cantus firmus, the original Gregorian chant melody. The melody leaps from voice to voice and is decorated with elaboraterunning passages. Et misericordia begins with a gentle dialogue between soprano and alto soloists, only to be interrupted by the chorus commenting forcefully, “Fecit potentiam”. Deposuit potentes, the chorus again makes strong and fervent comments, sending the major theme from part to part, to be followed by a more gentle second statement in the same pattern. Towards the endof the movement, the choral texture becomes thicker as the choral lines come together. Suscepit Israel, bass and tenor soloists describe the Lord’s assistance to Israel. Sicut locutus est , begins as call and response, one voice stating the text which is echoed by the other voices. All voices come together solemnly in the Gloria. The composition comes full circle in the final movement, Sicut erat in principio. The sopranos again present the cantus firmus melody introduced in the first movement. The work concludes with the vibrant intertwining of the texts “Et in secula seculorum” and “Amen”.