for chorus, chamber choir, and children's choir, or large divisi chorus, with orchestra or brass and organ
Showcasing Chilcott's exceptional talent for large-scale choral writing, Salisbury Vespers pays homage to this most ancient of services, combining settings of the traditional Vespers psalms with anonymous early texts and words from the Sarum Primer of 1516. Marian motets punctuate the psalm settings, and the work is concluded with a substantial setting of the Magnificat, using the plainsong melody from the same section in Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610. With driving rhythms, passages of reflective contemplation, and expansive, powerful textures, this is sure to become a mainstay of the modern choral repertory for years to come. Written for large mixed choir, chamber choir, and children's choir, Salisbury Vespers could equally be performed by a large mixed choir, with the parts for chamber choir and children's choir being sung by smaller sections taken from within the large chorus.
