Sancta Civitas (Vaughan Williams, Ralph)

This work has been identified as being in the public domain in Canada and the United States, as well as countries where the copyright term is life+50 years. However, this work is not in the public domain in countries where the copyright term is life+70 years (including all EU countries), unless an exception (such as the rule of the shorter term) applies. Works still protected by copyright can only be used with the permission of the copyright holder. See public domain for details.
This work may not be in the public domain in all countries. Please check the copyright laws of your country.

Contents

Performances

Sheet Music

Vocal Scores

PDF scanned by David Hilton
Cypressdome (2023/8/26)

Arranger Havergal Brian (1876-1972), uncredited
Editor First edition
Publisher. Info. London: J. Curwen & Sons, 1925. Plate 3663.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Original images: ca.400dpi, color tif (from pdf) files approx. 2865 by 4045 pixels. Editing: re-sampled to 600dpi, converted to black and white tif files, de-skewed, and set uniform margins.
Purchase
Javascript is required for this feature.

PDF scanned by HathiTrust
Cypressdome (2023/8/26)

Arranger Havergal Brian (1876-1972)
Editor First edition
Publisher. Info. London: J. Curwen & Sons, 1925. Plate 3663.
Copyright
Purchase
Javascript is required for this feature.

Javascript is required to submit files.

General Information

Work Title Sancta Civitas
Alternative. Title The Holy City; An Oratorio for Tenor and Baritone Soli, Chorus, Semi-Chorus, Distant Chorus and Orchestra
Composer Vaughan Williams, Ralph
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. IRV 69
Key C major
Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 10 sections*
  1. I was in the spirit. Lento (C major)
  2. And I saw Heaven opened. Allegro (G major)
  3. And I saw an angel standing in the sun. Meno mosso (G major)
  4. Babylon the great is fallen. Lento (G minor)
  5. Rejoice over her O Heavens. Allegro moderato (A major)
  6. And I saw a new heaven. Adagio (C minor)
  7. Therefore are they before the throne of God. Poco meno largo (F major)
  8. And I saw a pure river. [Poco meno mosso] (C minor)
  9. Holy, Holy, Holy. Andante sostenuto (E major)
  10. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Poco animato (C major)
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1923-25
First Performance. 1926, May - Oxford
First Publication. 1925 – London: J. Curwen & Sons
Librettist the Bible (as selected by the composer)
Language English
Average DurationAvg. Duration 35 minutes
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Early 20th century
Piece Style Early 20th century
Instrumentation tenor, baritone, mixed chorus (SATB), mixed semi-chorus (SATB), distant boys chorus (SSA), orchestra
External Links Wikipedia article
Extra Information *although Sancta Civitas is presented in the score as a single continuous movement, recordings typically divide it into 10 sections