Liturgical Music of J. S. Graves

For over 15 years I have composed multiple liturgical works for use in the liturgy of the Episcopal Church, both short service music and long pieces to be used on special occasions. I often provided various versions for different liturgical requirements. Most of my longer works can be divided into sections and sung between regular points of the spoken service, for instance at an Evensong or Lessons and Carols. I am including here free, downloadable PDF files, that can be printed for use in any church that is interested in these subjects, not just Episcopal churches. I just need to make it clear that I will continue to hold the Copyrights and those will be passed in my will. I encourage you to download any pieces that you are interested in, do that soon, because I am 84 years old I do not know how much longer I will be able to maintain this website. I only ask that if you are pleased with my music please consider a contribution of any amount to Speak, Inc., the publishers of The Anglican Digest, a little quarterly Christian magazine (anglicandigest.org) that has been printed now for 67 years in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Checks can be mailed to Anglican Digest, P. O. Box 110, Eureka Springs, Arkansas 72632-0110. You can donate online at anglicandigest.org.

1. The Song of Mary (Magnificat) (Longest Mary & Hail Mary with a cappella Hail at end, master 12.1.2025 – Full Score) with and w/o the Hail Mary, both without the Nunc Dimittis and Gloria Patri. This version with the Hail Mary is the longest of all the pieces listed here (19 pages). The Hail Mary occurs 3 times & is both accompanied and a cappella. (The Nunc Dimittis is not included with this longer version.) Without the 3 Hail Marys this work is 15 pages). The a cappella version of the Hail Mary is on the last few pages of this file.
2. The Song of Mary, an abridged version, (Mary & Hail Mary Choir abridged with inside cover 10.11.2025) suitable for an anthem, with or w/o the Hail Mary. (The stand alone version of the Hail Mary can be found at the end of this abridged version or at the end of the Song of Mary.) If the Hail Mary is not used this piece can be presented with or w/o the Nunc Dimittis and the Gloria Patri. Additionally, the same abridged (shortened) anthem versions of The Song of Mary is also available for soprano solo. With the Hail Mary this piece is 8 pages long, w/o the Hail Mary, or the Nunc Dimittis, it is only 6 pages.

3. Magnificat with and without the Nunc Dimittis. Both include the Goria Patri. Neither include the Hail Mary. There are two versions of this work. The longer Magnificat of the two includes the same ending of my original Song of Mary. (I’ll insert this file soon. It is 17 pages long with the Nunc Dimittis, 15 without the Nunc Dimittis.) The shorter version has a truncated ending and is called the short version of the Magnificat. (Magnificat and Nunc Short version with 1 Gloria, master 1.1.2025 – Full Score) (The last two pages of this shorter Magnificat have been shortened considerably. This second version is 13 pages w/o the Nunc Dimittis, 15 pages with the Nunc Dimittis and the Gloria.) The two versions are designed for a flexible presentation and can be performed with or w/o the Nunc Dimittis. Performance options for both versions include:

   Both the Long and Short Magnificats can be sung in sections (see the Section Rehearsal Marks, A, B, C, etc.) with the service readings, prayers, psalms or hymns said or sung in between each section—appropriate for Evening Prayer, Evensong, or Lessons and Carols, etc.

   1. • Some of the Rehearsal Sections (A, B, C, etc.) can be performed as stand-alone pieces.
      • When the decision is made to break the work into sections, the Nunc Dimittis can be included or excluded.
      • Some portions of both the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis can be sung a cappella if the director chooses to do so.
4. Hail Mary is available as a stand-alone a cappella SATB or as a soprano solo. The pdf of the SATB a capella is at the end of the abridged version of The Song of Mary. The soprano version is Mary & Hail Mary Soprano solo 11.13.2025 – Full Score.
5. The Nunc Dimittis and the Gloria Patri are both available as stand-alone compositions. (Nunc Dimittis SATB stand alone master 10.18.2025)
   Please notify me of any found or typographical errors in any of this music.