Jack Hawes

Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis In D

Jack Hawes (1916-2004) was a British composer, cellist, and pianist. He wrote widely for choir, orchestra, strings, and solo instruments, and cited his influences as Walton, Ireland, Bliss, Delius, and Debussy. Hisfirst setting of the evening canticles, the Magnificat And Nunc Dimittis in D, was completed in 1955 and dedicated to the church of St Mary-Le-Tower, Ipswich, where he sang as a boy chorister and first began tostudy the organ. It is scored for SATB with Organ accompaniment, and is firmly in the 20th century Anglican style, with plenty of soaring melodic lines and big climatic moments.