“Sanctus” is a Latin word which translates literally to “holy”. Very often in communion settings – indeed in the one we use at St Margaret’s – the Sanctus is bundled up with the “Benedictus”, which is Latin for “blessed”. Originally, they were separate paragraphs in the eucharist, and therefore treated separately by composers.
The words to the full Sanctus are:
Latin English
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Holy, Holy, Holy,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Lord God of Hosts.
Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
The combined Sanctus and Benedictus that we use in our sung services at St Margaret’s is available for you to listen to here: https://stmargaretsprestwich.com/music-at-st-margarets/
Elsewhere, there are many arrangements and settings, some fully orchestrated, some using folk tunes, some ancient, some contemporary. As I mentioned above, not all mass settings include a separate Sanctus (especially if it’s a Missa Brevis, as it would lengthen the service), but here are a few examples:
- The Armed Man: a mass for peace (Karl Jenkins) I have been fortunate enough to sing this a number of times with the Manchester Chorale in the Bridgewater Hall, under the baton of the composer himself. There are no videos of these live performances, but here is the London Philharmonic Orchestra with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB_qwrHdia0
- Five-part Mass (William Byrd) Readers that remember my daughter singing in St Margaret’s church choir may be interested to know that two years ago she conducted this, and I sang in her choir. In this recording by the Tallis Scholars the Sanctus ends at 2:21, and then runs into the Benedictus – which I conducted at the same event! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUgzZMlWezY
- Mass in Blue (Will Todd) This movement is a perfect foil to the exuberance of the Credo, written about last month. The Sanctus is instead almost laconic, and definitely ‘bluesey’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DZWJE2Xlb4
- Missa Brevis in D (Mozart) At just 85 seconds, this Sanctus really deserves its place in a Missa Brevis! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FSh4PumiVQ
- Little Organ Mass (Haydn) Barely 60 seconds long, but Haydn packs it full of interest. I conducted this two years ago, with full SATB choir, string orchestra and organ, and Jennifer sang in the choir. She also took a few sneaky pictures whilst I was busy rehearsing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X9diDcj9Pg
- Taizé chants: unsurprisingly, there are many of these to choose from. Here are a few:
Next month I’ll look at the ‘partner song’ to the Sanctus: the Benedictus.
Carol P
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 