An Evening Cantata (CD)

An Evening Cantata was written by Sam Hanson as a major outreach project for Wimborne Minster. Based on the service of Choral Evensong with the two biblical readings presented as extended musical settings, the whole work is intended to be accessible for children's choirs.

The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is told through a series of variations for organ and piano, each one depicting a different plague, with the children's chorus playing the part of Moses, and the tenor soloist playing the part of the Pharaoh.

The story of Holy Week is narrated by the children's chorus, with tenor and bass soloists singing the parts of Jesus, Peter, Judas and Pilate, with the adult choir providing the crowd, and three full choral pieces marking Palm Sunday, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are set in a traditional style, and can be used in ordinary services. The final anthem, based on Psalm 150 is an uplifting song of praise using the combined forces of the piece.