This wonderful, short choral masterpiece has a confusing heritage.  Spuriously attributed in 1910 to Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736), the six-movement MAGNIFICAT was actually composed by Francesco Durante (1684-1755), proven by a signed manuscript housed in Naples.  Highly esteemed by his contemporaries and described as "one of the greatest Italian church composers and composition teachers of all time," Durante was Pergolesi�s teacher, which may be where some of the confusion regarding this work�s composer may have originated.  Undoubtedly one of Durante’s most important compositions, this work is one the most significant settings of this text (derived from Luke 1:46-55) in cantata form, masterfully combining the traditional polyphonic notation with modern, early Classical elements. Regardless of attribution, the work remains, next to Vivaldi�s GLORIA and Pergolesi�s STABAT MATER, among the most familiar pieces of 18th century Italian sacred music. This edition has been edited by Clayton Westermann. Movements: I. Magnificat, II. Et Misericordia, III. Deposuit, IV. Suscepit Israel, V. Sicut Locutus Est, VI. Sicut Erat in Principio.  Instrumentation: Org: Str (2-2-2-1-1 in set): Solo SATB: Mx Chor.