Blessed Be God

Author: Ntambang, Roland Edey (Ph.D.)

Musical Analysis

The composition Blessed Be God draws its text from the “Canticle of Zechariah” (Luke 1:68–79), traditionally referred to as the Benedictus. This canticle emerges after the miraculous birth of John the Baptist and the restoration of Zechariah’s voice, forming one of the three principal canticles of Luke’s infancy narrative: the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the Nunc Dimittis. In Christian liturgy, the Benedictus holds a privileged position as the hymn for Lauds (Morning Prayer) within the Liturgy of the Hours.

While numerous simple and chant-like settings exist for liturgical use, the text has rarely been treated in polyphonic, concert-style settings comparable to those devoted to the Gloria or Credo. This gap provided both the motivation and creative impetus for my composition. By situating the Benedictus within a larger tradition of grand sacred works, I sought to elevate the prayer text into a formal, celebratory, and stylistically elaborate musical statement.
Earlier settings exist, most notably Charles Villiers Stanford’s Anglican works in his various Morning, Evening, and Communion Services (Opp. 10, 12, 81, 115), but they tend toward liturgical utility rather than concert performance.

Thus, Blessed Be God consciously positions itself within a dual trajectory: rooted in Western classical sacred traditions, yet expanded with African rhythmic and cultural idioms to reflect both liturgical adaptability and cultural inclusivity.

General Structure

The composition is organised into four interconnected sections, modelled in part after Vivaldi’s Gloria. Each ritardando at the end of a section introduces the next, maintaining forward momentum without halting the music. Sustained accompaniment and alternating soli and a cappella parts ensure structural unity across the piece.

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References

Arbuckle, G. (1990). Earthing the gospel: An inculturation handbook for the pastoral worker. Orbis Books.

Arbuckle, G. (1986). Inculturation, not adaptation: Time to change terminology. Worship, 60(6), 512–520.

Chupungco, A. (2006). Cultural adaptation of the liturgy. Wipf & Stock Publishers.

Sacrosanctum Concilium. (1963). Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Retrieved from
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

Schineller, P. (1990). A handbook on inculturation. Paulist Press.

Stanford, C. V. (1890–1920). Morning, Evening, and Communion Services (Opp. 10, 12, 81, 115). Various publishers.

The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version. (1989). Luke 1:68–79.

Author

Ntambang, Roland Edey (Ph.D.)