Eucharistic Liturgy (Thanksgiving of the People of God)

About

This music represents the culmination of a project instigated in 2000 by the Anglican cathedral in Auckland. The intention was to provide a set of music which could be performed by large forces (choir with brass sextet and organ) or simply in unison by a congregation with piano accompaniment.

The original commission from Holy Trinity Cathedral was instigated by the then Director of Music, Peter Watts, and was described as 'a gift to the people of New Zealand from Holy Trinity Cathedral'. The project description further stated: 'The New Zealand Prayer Book contains many liturgies which we adapt in various ways to suit music composed over the past 400 years - mostly English composers with a few New Zealanders represented - Mews, Griffiths, Dienes and Jennings. We would like to invite leading New Zealand composer, David Hamilton, in consultation with the Director of Music, to write a set of music specifically for the new liturgies, that could be sung either simply by the congregation with organ or piano accompaniment, or in a more complex style by church and cathedral choirs combining with the congregation.'

The first set of music was performed on Easter Sunday 2000 in the morning service at Holy Trinity Cathedral. This second set of pieces, completed in mid-2002, consists of texts selected from alternative services within the New Zealand Prayer Book. The music is scored for brass (3 trumpets and 3 trombones) and organ, but also performable with just piano or organ accompaniment. The vocal parts are designed to be performable just by congregation, or incorporating a choir. This millennium project was funded by the NZ Lottery Grants Board.

A second set of pieces, completed in mid-2002, consists of texts selected from alternative services within the New Zealand Prayer Book.