A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Nunc Dimittis
NUNC DIMITTIS. The first words of the Song of Simeon, occurring in the 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd verses of the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke. This canticle has been used at either Vespers or Compline from the earliest ages. It is mentioned in the Apostolical Constitutions (written about the beginning of the 5th century) and though St. Benedict does not order its use in his Rule (A.D. 530), Amalarius, writing early in the 9th century mentions it as in use in his own time, and English versions of it are extant as far back as the 14th century. It appears that in the most ancient times this hymn was sung at Vespers, of which service it still for part in the Greek Use. The Roman and Armenian Uses, however, appoint it to be sung at Compline, the solemn character of the hymn seeming more appropriate to the last service of the day. (It is worthy of note that the Armenian differs from the Western Use in having two distinct Offices of Compline, one for public, and the other for private use. The former contains neither Magnificat nor Nunc Dimittis, but the latter includes both canticles, thus resembling the Evening Office of the Anglican Church).
The Anglican Evensong was formed by combining the two ancient services of Vespers and Compline, the 1st Lesson and Magnificat being taken from the former, the 2nd Lesson and the Nunc Dimittis from the latter. In the Second Service Book of Edward VI (published in 1552), the 67th Psalm (Deus Misereatur), which the Sarum Use had rendered familiar, was allowed to be sung instead of the Nunc Dimittis. The fact of this canticle being generally sung at Compline—the least elaborate, as well as the last of the daily services—accounts for the neglect it has received in musical treatment from the hands of the great mediæval masters of Church Music. In Merbecke's 'Booke of Common praier noted' it is adapted to the Fifth Church Tone and to a chant founded on the Seventh Tone; indeed, settings of the hymn are almost entirely confined to the Post Reformation composers of the English school. With these it has always been a favourite, and although it is the shortest of the canticles used in the Anglican Service, yet the peculiar solemnity of the words, and the unity of idea which pervades it have caused the Nunc Dimittis to be more generally set and sung than the alternative Psalm Deus Misereatur.