Composer

Richard Rice

Program Notes

Though not liturgical chant, the Christmas antiphon, Ecce Nomen Domini Emmanuel, has been a favorite of mine for years. For my setting, I borrowed the polyphonic techniques typical of the Old Hall Manuscript, in which a familiar chant melody is given a new and vibrant rhythm, along with a couple of contrapuntal parts. I enjoy both its fauxbourdon moments and its crossed voices. To be effective, it should be sung about a briskly as possible, with much gusto, probably abetted by the singers’ preferred holiday cheer. In performance, I would suggest singing the melody through once in unison, followed by the parts.