Nunc Dimittis (Three Short Pieces, No. 2)

T.J. (Thomas James) Crawford (1877-1955) was born in Scotland, lived in England, and became a naturalized Canadian in 1928. He held the degree of B Mus (Durham), and was a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
He studied organ and theory in Glasgow with H. Sandiford Turner and Otto Schweitzer, and in 1894 in Leipzig with Carl Reinecke and Paul Homeyer. While he was in Leipzig he was organist at All Saints (Anglo-American) Church. He also was successful there as a composer; his "Lipsia Suite" for orchestra was performed under Reinecke (and later under Sir August Manns at the Crystal Palace in London).

Returning to London in 1898, he assisted Sir Frederick Bridge for seven years at Westminster Abbey. In 1911 he became the organist-choirmaster of St Michael's Church, Chester Square, London. In December 1922 he moved to Toronto to take up posts as organist at St Paul's Bloor St. and teacher at the Toronto Conservatory.

He was organist-choirmaster in 1932 at Holy Trinity Church and 1933-46 at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. Retiring in 1946, he continued to travel as an examiner for the RCMT and produced a book, Keyboard Harmony and Transposition (Toronto 1952, 1966). His last position was at St Andrew's Church, Barrie, in 1954.

He was quite active and successful as a composer, and has several organ works that are still played.

"Nunc Dimittis" is the second of "Three Short Pieces," and is dedicated: "To Leonard Wilson."

In this work, Crawford produces a solemn, understated statement of the canticle, "Nunc dimittis" - "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace."

There is something of the element of a cortege here, and the thematic material has a decidedly plainsong-like atmosphere to it, although I could not find any actual plainsong melody present.

The score is attached below.