Tantum ergo: Vocal score (New Horizons)

Gabriel Jackson's music is in the repertoire of many cathedral and collegiate choirs, though it has a reputation for being difficult and few parish choirs attempt it. But these two pieces ['Tantum ergo' and 'O salutaris hostia'] would be well within the capability of many choirs, with a bit of effort to learn them initially, and most rewarding for those who try them. The words are of the two hymns traditionally sung at Benediction, but each would make a good communion anthem. They are however a pair, both in E flat and sharing much musical material: indeed the final three-bar Amens are identical. Yet each piece also has a distinctive sound, O salutaris hostia notably featuring drones that underpin the melodies. Both are on YouTube sung by the Byron Consort of Harrow School for whom they were written; do listen to them and enjoy this expressive, contemplative music. (James L. Montgomery, www.rscm.com, June 2017)

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied This serene communion motet sets the last two verses of the Pangue Lingua and oscillates between 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures. The melodic lines are expressive and at times melismatic, and the divisi in all parts creates a rich texture.