Chanting the Canticles (for beginners)

The services for Morning and Evening prayer in the Book of Common Prayer include numerous passages from scripture and tradition called canticles.  As the name implies, canticles are meant to be chanted or sung.  But this can seem tricky if you don't know how to read music.  You can improvise a chant tone or use a traditional chant tone that you learn by ear. (Learn how on our Chant Page.)  Or you can explore some simple musical settings of the canticles from the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 and St. Gregory's Music for Liturgy (MFL) Book, below,  to help you get started singing the canticles.  Even if you can't read music, you can listen to the audio files and learn these canticles by ear.  As you sing along, the tones and words of scripture will slowly work their way into your memory, your body, and your heart.   

The Venite (Psalm 95) from Hymnal S34

The Jubilate from Hymnal S41

Canticle 8 (The Song of Moses) from Hymnal S208

Canticle 9 (The First Song of Isaiah/Surely it is God) from MFL 35 and Hymnal S213

Canticle 10 (The 2nd Song of Isaiah/Seek the Lord) from Hymnal S217

Canticle 11 (The 3rd Song of Isaiah/Arise Shine) from MFL 36 and Hymnal S223

Canticle 12 (A Song of Creation) from Hymnal S228

Canticle 13 (A Song of Praise) from Hymnal S231

Canticle 14 (A Song of Penitence) Plainsong Tone 3

Canticle 15 (Magnificat) from MFL 49 and Hymnal S242

Canticle 16 (The Song of Zechariah/Benedictus) from MFL 47 and Hymnal S248

Canticle 17 (The Song of Simeon/Nunc Dimittis) from MFL 52 and Hymnal S254

Canticle 18 (Song to the Lamb/Splendor and Honor) from MFL 58 and Hymnal S261

Canticle 19 (The Song of the Redeemed/ O Ruler of the Universe) from MFL 59 and Hymnal S267

Canticle 20 (Gloria) from MFL 7