Come, O Creator Spirit (2015)
SATB and organ, with optional congregational part
Commissioned by Wellington College for the MMA Conference and broadcast on the BBC Morning Service, this setting is perfect for celebrating Pentecost.
“Alan Bullard alternates the Mechlin plainsong ‘Veni Creator’ (‘Come, O Creator spirit’), sung in Latin or English, verse by verse with a setting of ‘Breathe on me, breath of God’ that sounds as if it is an elaboration of the plainsong melody. Each verse intensifies in complexity until the fourth verses, which, instead of being separate, combine the doxology of ‘Veni Creator’ with ‘Breathe on me, breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with thee ‘ to thrilling effect. A congregation may join with the choir in the ‘Veni Creator’ verses.” – James L. Montgomery, Sunday by Sunday (RSCM)
Oxford University Press more details
Audio of first performance (Wellington College choir, director Sean Farrell) on Youtube (The BBC broadcast omitted the first verse due to time constraints, so I’ve just added this in on organ.)
Scrolling score – sung by the choir of Lion Walk Church, Colchester, director Ian Ray