Isobel Baillie (soprano)
William Herbert (tenor)
Festival Choir
London Symphony Orchestra
(Leader, George Stratton )
Conducted by Meredith Davies and Herbert Howells
Aubade heroique..... Constant Lambert
7.40 app. Hymnus Paradisi
Herbert Howells
(conducted by the composer)
8.30 app. Symphony No. 2, in B flat
Schubert
From Hereford Cathedral
The first three movements of Hymnus Pdraiisi are linked together and are mainly contemplative in mood After a short Preludio for orchestra, the voices enter with the words Requiem aeternam. The third movement is a setting of Psa]m 23. The remaining movements are separate, and are more extended and graphic in style. In No 4 the words of the Sanctus are combined with those of Psalm 121. Two impressive climaxes are reached: the fifth movement, ' I heard a voice from heaven,' follows, striking a more meditative note. The final movement, ' Holy is the true light,' brings in its train a succession of ' Alleluias and a reiturn to the tranquillity of the opening Requiem aeternam. The work draws upon a setting of a medieval Latin poem which the composer wrote after the death of his son, Michael Kendrick Howells , to whose memoryHymnus Paradisi isinscribed.
Harold Rutland
See page 7