Warwick: The Great O

Buy now using PayPal

Description

This chant setting of the single syllable "O" was written at Dunblane Cathedral on the First Sunday of Advent 2006. The sense of longing in the original Advent ‘O’ Antiphons is expressed by a four-note melisma E-A-A-G on the ‘O’; in this setting these four notes can be found at the beginning of the third section of the chant. There is also a reference to the Blues in the falling thirds in the final section, helping to reinforce the sense of desolation.

The setting was written to be sung before 'O come, O come, Emmanuel' (melody and words for five verses are included).

The music is presented in modern notation. The use of stem-less notes on a five-line stave shows the pitch and relative rhythmic values without imposing a rigid rhythm. The chant may be sung at any convenient pitch.

The inspiration for this setting comes from the writing of a German Catholic priest, Max Josef Metzger, who, before his execution by the Nazis in 1945, wrote:

"He knows not Advent’s meaning who has never sat
By twilight in a dreary cell..."

The text

The antiphon consists of the syllable "O". Also included is the melody and five verses of the hymn 'O come, O come, Emmanuel'.

Difficulty level: **

This moderately-easy piece is available for purchase as a choral octavo or for a limited time as a free download. Royalties from this publication will go to the Dunblane-Likhubula Partnership in order to help development of the Likhubula village community, high in the Mulanje mountain massif in the tea-growing area of Malawi.

Printed choral leaflets (octavo size)

You can printed copies of The Great O online here. Your music will usually be despatched within 24hrs.

• 1 – 9 copies
• sets of 10 copies
• if you're buying 50 copies or more
  take advantage of free postage and a larger discount!

	1–9 copies: £1.60 each plus £1.50 p&p on total order
To order, click on the Buy Now button above, then choose how many copies you want.
	10% discount for sets of 10 copies : Sets of 10 copies: £14.40 plus £2.50 p&p on total order
To order, click on the Buy Now button above, then choose how many sets of 10 copies you want. I.e. if you want to buy 30 copies, type "3" (no quotes) into the Quantity box on the next page, and then click "Update Totals".
Buying 50 copies or more? Take advantage of free shipping and bigger descant If you are buying 50 copies or more, please contact us (info1(at)theartofmusic.co.uk), as we can offer you a bigger discount. Then please return to this page and use the PayPal button below to continue with your purchase. We will send your music once payment has been received.
	Buying 50 copies or more (with free shipping): manual orders (To order, click on the Buy Now button on the left, then enter the amount as notified into the "Unit Price" box, then click "Update Totals".)

We accept credit and debit cards for payment.
Your order will be placed in pounds sterling (UKP); however, your credit-card company will bill you in your own currency.

Downloadable copies: conditions of the licence

You may make copies of the work for your local use; however, copyright remains with the publisher. Copies may not be made for commercial use, for resale, hire or distribution under any cover other than the original.

Please note that this free download is available only for a limited time.

• download The Great O

You are invited to make a donation using the PayPal secure payments system.