This Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B minor is less well known than Thiman’s service in G and is awaiting revival.Eric Thiman was a 20th century composer teacher and Organist who was also an advocate of amateur music-making. He was a prolific composer of church music and Piano and Organ works and his craftsmanship and gift for melody were much admired. He was director of music at the City Temple in London. As an educator he was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music and he wrote many books on harmony counterpoint and musical form.

The Blues Service-New settings of the two evening canticles which incorporate jazz elements including harmony in voice parts and organ and many â??blueâ?? notes. Despite these jazz elements the music is very approachable with natural syncopation and mostly homophonic writing. It is also available for mixed choir (ISMN 979-0-060-13011-3). Either version would be enjoyable and rewarding additions to a church choirâ??s modern liturgical repertoire or indeed concert repertoire of all choirs.