Page 28 - Stanford Communion Service in C complete

Editorial notes
Stanford’s setting of the Communion Service in C was composed in 1909 as part of his Morning and Evening Service together with the Office for Holy Communion Op. 115. The Service was published by Stainer & Bell in the same year. Originally the Communion part of Stanford’s service was written to comply with the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (the setting of the Kyrie eleison took the form of two responses, the second after the Tenth Commandment), which included responses before and after the Gospel, the Sursum Corda and the Final Amen, as well as the more extended movements of the Credo, Sanctus and Gloria (in that order). In addition, since neither the Benedictus qui venit nor the Agnus Dei appeared in the 1662 Book of Com- mon Prayer (having been deliberately omitted by Cranmer in the earlier 1552 version), these settings were added by Stanford (in F) prompted by increasing ‘High Church’ influence and demand for the restoration of these two components to the liturgy. Moreover, since there is no setting in C of the Kyrie, this movement has been composed specially for this publication by the editor and, in keeping with the prominent cyclic nature of Stanford’s service, incorporates material central to its musical fabric.
Sources
S1 Royal School of Church Music. The/Morning and Evening/Service/together with the/Office for the Holy Communion/set to music in the key of C major/by/Charles Villiers Stanford/Op. 115. Bound autograph manu- script complete version for choir and organ n.d. 16-stave manuscript paper (except for title page). Plate 307; Fol. 10002. 28pp. Credo pp. 15–19; Sanctus p. 20; Gloria in excelsis pp. 21–23. System origination of four staves: SATB = two staves; organ = two staves. Four systems per page. [Magnificat and Nunc dimittis pp. 24–28.] Two Hymns for the Service of the Holy Communion/Benedictus qui venit/Agnus Dei/in F major [on final page]. 30-stave manuscript paper. Plate 358 or 353? [both crossed out]; Fol. 10443. 3 pp. Benedictus qui venit [p. 29]; Agnus Dei [pp. 30–31]. System origination of six staves: SATB = four staves; organ = two staves. Four systems per page.
S2 Published score of Communion Service in C for SATB and organ, Stainer & Bell 1909.
S3 Published score of Benedictus qui venit and Agnus Dei in F for SATB and organ, Stainer & Bell [n.d.].
Editorial method
S1 has been used as the primary source for the Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus qui venit and Agnus Dei. Where the reading in S1 is in doubt, S2 and S3 have been consulted. S1, which contains the engraver’s markings, was clearly used as the source for publication (S2 and S3).
Omission of accidentals in S1, S2 and S3 have been rectified without comment. All editorial dynamics are in square brackets. All editorial slurs, ties and hairpins are bisected by a short vertical line. In accordance with modern editorial practice, all vocal parts include beaming.
Stainer & Bell’s origination of Stanford’s service was four staves for the choir plus two staves for the organ. In this edition, however, where it has seemed expedient, some of the chorus parts have been reduced onto two staves, and the organ part in the Gloria expanded onto three staves.
Performance
This edition has been constructed particularly for use in Orders 1 and 2 of the Church of England’s Com- mon Worship.
The metronome markings and registration instructions in the Gloria, Credo and Sanctus are Stanford’s own (or were clearly sanctioned by him for publication), so they may be safely adhered to as authoritative. In the Benedictus qui venit and Agnus, where they are absent, I have provided metronome marks editori- ally. Stanford’s phrasing in all these movements is somewhat sporadic, so I have supplied editorial slurs where considered appropriate as well as a few dynamics.
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