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Richard Wayne Dirksen Centenary

Richard Wayne Dirksen Centenary

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400 Canons

The two sets of Canons on Psalm 101 and Proverbs were composed in two summers of 1954 and 1955 for the cathedral choir of men to sing in their annual end-of-August Evensong and concert (no boys in the summer). They had sung Haydn's "Canons for the Ten Holy Commands" in 1953 with such joy and success that the men ordered Dirksen to write new ones. There are performance charts for each canon that are "maps" of how to create variations of length and complexity in their working out.

Scores for all the Canons

The Twelve Proverbial Canons are presented in full below. The rest will follow in due season.

Eleven Canons for Psalm 101

Twelve Proverbial Canons

A Gracious Woman



from a concert of Canons Ancient and Modern, April 29, 2018
St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Lexington KY
Richard S. Dirksen, Director

The Rich Man’s Wealth


The Essex Chamber Singers, 5/19/89
Christ Church of Hamilton / Wenham, Mass.
Mark Dirksen, Director

A Wise Son



from a concert of Canons Ancient and Modern, April 29, 2018
St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Lexington KY
Richard S. Dirksen, Director

Wine is a Mocker


The Essex Chamber Singers, 5/19/89
Christ Church of Hamilton / Wenham, Mass.
Mark Dirksen, Director

Pride Goeth Before Destruction


The Essex Chamber Singers, 5/19/89
Christ Church of Hamilton / Wenham, Mass.
Mark Dirksen, Director

The Wicked Flee



from a concert of Canons Ancient and Modern, April 29, 2018
St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Lexington KY
Richard S. Dirksen, Director

A Soft Answer


The Essex Chamber Singers, 5/19/89
Christ Church of Hamilton / Wenham, Mass.
Mark Dirksen, Director

The Mouth of the Just



from a concert of Canons Ancient and Modern, April 29, 2018
St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Lexington KY
Richard S. Dirksen, Director

A Froward Man Soweth Strife



from a concert of Canons Ancient and Modern, April 29, 2018
St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Lexington KY
Richard S. Dirksen, Director

Whoso Curseth His Father



from a concert of Canons Ancient and Modern, April 29, 2018
St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Lexington KY
Richard S. Dirksen, Director

A Whip for the Horse



The Essex Chamber Singers, 5/19/89
Christ Church of Hamilton / Wenham, Mass.
Mark Dirksen, Director

Chasten Thy Son



from a concert of Canons Ancient and Modern, April 29, 2018
St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Lexington KY
Richard S. Dirksen, Director

The Land Is Bright

Score & audio.

Wyngate Canon

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