Dona nobis pacem and Five Songs of the Spirit

Going Beyond Words host, Stan Schmidt invites you to return to your aural senses and enjoy a great masterpiece by Ralph Vaughan Williams,  “Dona nobis pacem” and “Five Songs of the Spirit” by another grand composer from England, Sir Edward Bairstow.  Sir Edward completed his composition in 1944 on the urging of the Dean who has chosen a set of religious poems which he want the composer to set in a suite for solo voice and chorus.   He responded with a cycle for Baritone, Solo and chorus; One has women’s chorus, one none at all, one is all chorus and two are mixed.  With the assistance of Sir Ernest Bullock, who orchestrated the last three movements were published eight years after Bairstow’s death.  The performance features the Choir of St. John‘s College, Cambridge with the Britten Sinfonia and Roderick Williams, Baritone.   David Hill is the conductor………..Most of you are very familiar with the make up the “Dona nobis pacem” written in 1936 by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with the main idea being the “Glory to God” which asks for righteousness and peace instead of war….The recording to be addressed presents Sheila Armstrong, Soprano, John Carol Case, Baritone, The London Philharmonic Choir prepared by John Aldis and the London Philharmonic Orchestra all guided by Sir Adrian Boult.   The copyright on this CD is 1974 and is a real gem.

For a look at the CD’s used and a complete list of the music heard go to the blog of WWW.GOINGBEYONDWORDS.COM website and click on show 2414