Magnificat
DEFINITION
A part of the Roman Catholic vespers service. The text of the magnificat are from the words of the Virgin Mary. It is sung antiphonally in plainsong. In the Renaissance and after it has been sung polyphonically, sometimes based on the tune of earlier plainsong.the canticle drawn from the biblical words attributed to the mother of Christ, my soul doth magnify the Lord. It forms part of the evening service of vespers, in the divine office of the catholic liturgy, and thus appears in composed settings. As part of the evening service of the church of England it has similarly been subjected to musical treatment