Third Service : Work information

Composers
Thomas Tomkins ( Music, Images,)
Performed by
David Burchell (Organ), Choir of New College Oxford, Edward Higginbottom (Conductor)

This work

Work name
Third Service
Work number
n/a
Key
n/a
Genre
A
Composed
n/a

This recording

Label
CRD
Producer
John Hadden
Engineer
John Hadden
Recording date
1990-07-18 00:00:00

The Composers

Thomas Tomkins

Track listing

  • Te Deum 11:33 min
  • Jubilate 6:21 min
  • Magnificat 6:48 min
  • Nunc dimittis 3:52 min

Notes

Thomas Tomkins's Third Service, comprising choral settings of the canticles at Morning and Evening Prayer, was probably composed for use in the Chapel Royal. This would explain its generous scale with up to ten parts and its similarity to Byrd's Great Service, also used in the Chapel Royal; indeed Tomkin's Third Service is often known as his Great Service.

This challenging work was first published in 1668 along with many of Tomkin's other sacred works by his son, Nathaniel Tomkins. Had it not been included in that collection, we might never have had the opportuniy to hear it; the Batten Organbook is the only (incomplete) manuscript source we have for the Third Service.

Particularly impressive is the Te Deum, grand and regal enough to be used for state ceremonies. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are more familiar, often performed as part of Choral Evensong, and are more intimate in scale than either the Te Deum or the Jubilate.