Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus: A Masterpiece of Choral Music

Robert Prizeman is a British composer, conductor and producer who is best known for his work with the vocal group Libera. He has composed many beautiful and inspiring pieces of choral music, but one of his most famous and popular works is Sanctus.

Sanctus is a Latin word that means “holy” or “sacred”. It is also the name of a part of the Mass, the liturgical service of the Catholic Church. The Sanctus is sung or recited before the Eucharistic Prayer, the central part of the Mass where bread and wine are consecrated as the body and blood of Christ.

The Sanctus consists of two parts: the first part is a praise to God, taken from the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, where the prophet sees a vision of God surrounded by angels who sing “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts”. The second part is a blessing to Jesus Christ, taken from the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, where the people welcome Jesus into Jerusalem by shouting “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.

Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus is a musical setting of these two parts, arranged for choir and orchestra. It was first performed by Libera in 1999 and has since been recorded and performed by many other choirs around the world. It is a stunning piece of music that captures the awe and reverence of the words.

The piece begins with a soft and gentle introduction by the strings, creating a sense of mystery and anticipation. Then, the choir enters with a single word: “Sanctus”. The word is repeated several times, each time with a different harmony and dynamics, building up to a climax. The choir then sings the first part of the text, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts”, with a majestic and powerful melody that contrasts with the previous section. The orchestra accompanies the choir with rich and colorful chords that enhance the mood.

The second part of the text, “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, is sung by a soloist or a small group of singers, with a simple and elegant melody that expresses joy and gratitude. The orchestra supports the soloist with a delicate and graceful accompaniment that creates a contrast with the previous section. The choir then joins in with a harmonized version of the same melody, creating a sense of unity and harmony.

The piece ends with a return to the word “Sanctus”, sung by the choir with a soft and peaceful tone that echoes the beginning. The orchestra fades out with a gentle chord that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.

How to Download Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus Pdf for Free

If you are interested in learning more about Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus, you might want to download the sheet music for free. There are many websites that offer free sheet music downloads, but not all of them are reliable or legal. Here are some tips on how to find and download Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus Pdf for free.

First, you need to find a website that has the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus. You can use a search engine like Bing and type in “Robert Prizeman Sanctus Pdf” as your keyword. You will get many results, but not all of them will have the sheet music you are looking for. You need to check the website carefully and make sure it is trustworthy and safe.
Second, you need to check the quality and format of the sheet music. Some websites might have low-quality or incomplete sheet music that will not help you learn the piece. You also need to make sure that the sheet music is in Pdf format, which is a common and easy-to-read format for digital documents. You can use a Pdf reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and view the sheet music.
Third, you need to download the sheet music to your device. Some websites might require you to register or sign up before you can download the sheet music. You should be careful and avoid giving out your personal or financial information to unknown websites. You should also scan the file for viruses or malware before opening it. You can use a antivirus software like Microsoft Defender to protect your device.

By following these steps, you should be able to download Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus Pdf for free. However, you should also respect the copyright of the composer and the publisher and use the sheet music for personal or educational purposes only. If you want to support the composer and the publisher, you can also buy the sheet music from their official websites or online stores.

Where to Find Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus Sheet Music Online

If you are a musician or a choir director who wants to perform Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus, you might be wondering where to find the sheet music online. There are many websites that offer sheet music for sale or for free, but not all of them have the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus. Here are some websites that have the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus online.

Sheet Music Plus: This is a website that sells sheet music for various instruments and genres. You can find the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus for choir and orchestra here. You can buy the digital download or the printed copy. The price is $5.99 for the digital download and $8.99 for the printed copy.
Musicnotes: This is another website that sells sheet music for various instruments and genres. You can find the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus for choir and piano here. You can buy the digital download or the printed copy. The price is $5.50 for the digital download and $7.50 for the printed copy.
Musescore: This is a website that offers free sheet music downloads and online playback. You can find the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus for brass quintet here. You can download the Pdf file or print it for free. You can also listen to the audio playback online.
Scribd: This is a website that hosts various types of documents, including sheet music. You can find the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus for choir and orchestra here. You can download the Pdf file or print it for free. However, you need to sign up or log in to access the file.
Scribd: This is another document hosted by Scribd. You can find the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus for violin and cello here. You can download the Pdf file or print it for free. Again, you need to sign up or log in to access the file.

By visiting these websites, you should be able to find the sheet music for Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus online. However, you should also respect the copyright of the composer and the publisher and use the sheet music for personal or educational purposes only. If you want to support the composer and the publisher, you can also buy the sheet music from their official websites or online stores.

The Meaning and History of Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus

Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus is not only a beautiful piece of music, but also a meaningful and historical one. It is based on an ancient text that has been used in the Christian liturgy for centuries, and it reflects the composer’s faith and vision. Here are some facts about the meaning and history of Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus.

The text of Sanctus is taken from two biblical sources: the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew. In Isaiah 6:3, the prophet sees a vision of God surrounded by angels who sing “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts”. In Matthew 21:9, the people welcome Jesus into Jerusalem by shouting “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. The text combines these two passages to praise God and Jesus as holy and blessed.
The text of Sanctus is part of the Mass, the central service of the Catholic Church. It is sung or recited before the Eucharistic Prayer, where bread and wine are consecrated as the body and blood of Christ. The Sanctus expresses the awe and reverence of the people before God’s presence and mystery.
The text of Sanctus has been set to music by many composers throughout history, such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Verdi, Fauré, and Britten. Each composer has given their own interpretation and style to the text, creating diverse and rich musical expressions.
Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus was composed in 1999 for his vocal group Libera, a choir of boys aged 7 to 16 from South London. Prizeman wanted to create a piece that would showcase the boys’ voices and convey their innocence and purity. He also wanted to create a piece that would appeal to a wide audience and inspire them with a message of hope and peace.
Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus is arranged for choir and orchestra, with a soloist or a small group of singers for the second part of the text. The piece has a contrast between soft and loud sections, simple and complex harmonies, and gentle and majestic melodies. The piece creates a sense of wonder and joy that touches the listener’s heart.

Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus is a masterpiece of choral music that combines an ancient text with a modern sound. It is a piece that celebrates the holiness and beauty of God and Jesus, and invites the listener to join in the praise.

How to Perform Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus

Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus is a challenging but rewarding piece of music to perform. It requires a choir and an orchestra, as well as a soloist or a small group of singers for the second part of the text. The piece also requires a good balance and coordination between the different parts, as well as a clear and expressive interpretation of the text and the music. Here are some tips on how to perform Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus.

First, you need to learn the notes and rhythms of your part. You can use the sheet music or the audio recordings to practice your part. You should pay attention to the dynamics, articulations, and phrasing of your part, and follow the markings and instructions on the sheet music. You should also memorize your part if possible, so that you can focus on the expression and communication of the music.
Second, you need to learn the meaning and pronunciation of the text. The text is in Latin, which is a language that is not widely spoken today. You can use a Latin dictionary or a translation tool to understand the meaning of the words. You can also use a pronunciation guide or a recording to learn how to pronounce the words correctly. You should practice speaking and singing the text with clarity and accuracy.
Third, you need to rehearse with the other performers. You should listen to and watch the conductor, who will guide you through the piece. You should also listen to and blend with the other singers and instrumentalists, who will create the harmony and texture of the piece. You should adjust your volume, tone, and timing according to the other performers, and create a unified and coherent sound.
Fourth, you need to perform with expression and emotion. You should convey the awe and reverence of the text, as well as the joy and gratitude of the music. You should use your voice and body language to communicate the message and mood of the piece. You should also enjoy and appreciate the beauty and power of the piece, and share it with the audience.

By following these tips, you should be able to perform Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus with confidence and skill. It is a piece that will challenge you as a musician, but also inspire you as a human being.

Conclusion

Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus is a piece of music that combines an ancient text with a modern sound. It is a piece that celebrates the holiness and beauty of God and Jesus, and invites the listener to join in the praise. It is also a piece that challenges and rewards the performers, who need to learn and rehearse their parts, as well as express and communicate the music. Robert Prizeman’s Sanctus is a masterpiece of choral music that will touch your heart and soul.