A Prayer for Peace in Ukraine

A Prayer for Peace in Ukraine – August 19 2022 Concert by the Leidse Cantorij (of Leiden, Netherlands) and Cantemus Chamber Choir (Wales)

Herbert Howells (1892-1983) – O pray for the peace O pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls and plenteousness be in thy palaces. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee.

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) – Verleih uns Frieden Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich, Herr Gott, zu unsern Zeiten! Es ist doch ja kein Andrer nicht, Der für uns könnte streiten, Denn du, unser Gott, alleine.

In these our days so perilous, Lord, peace in mercy send us; No God but thee can fight for us, No God but thee defend us; Thou our only God and Saviour.

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) – Adoramus te, Christe Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, Quia per tuam sanctam crucem redemisti mundum. Miserere nobis.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because with your precious blood you have redeemed the world Have mercy on us.

Emma Brown (b. 1985) – O lux beata Trinitas O lux beata Trinitas, Et principalis unitas, Iam sol recedit igneus, Infunde lumen cordibus.

Te mane laudum carmine, Te deprecemur vespere: Te nostra supplex gloria Per cuncta laudet sæcula.

Deo Patri sit gloria, Eiusque soli Filio, Cum Spiritu paraclito, Et nunc, et in perpetuum.

0 blessed light, the Trinity, And principal Unity, Now the fiery sun recedes, Pour light into our hearts.

To you praises in the morning, To you prayers in the evening: To you our humble glory Through all the ages.

To God the Father be glory And to the only Son, With the comforting Spirit Now evermore.

Herbert Howells (1892-1983) – Psalm 23, The Lord is my shepherd Soloists: Helen Pugsley, Amy Seager, Richard Pugsley The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul: and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: thy rod and thy staff comfort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. But thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) – When David Heard When David heard that Absalom was slain He went up to his chamber over the gate And wept; and thus he said: O my son Absalom, my son My son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee O Absalom, my son, my son!

Welsh trad. arr Huw Williams (b. 1971) – Ar hyd y Nos Holl amrantau’r sêr ddywedant, Ar hyd y nos Dyma’r ffordd i fro gogoniant, Ar hyd y nos.

Golau arall yw tywyllwch I arddangos gwir brydferthwch, Teulu’r nefoedd mewn tawelwch Ar hyd y nos.

O mor siriol, gwena’r seren Ar hyd y nos. I oleuo’i chwaer ddaearen Ar hyd y nos.

Nos yw henaint pan ddaw cystudd, Ond i harddu dyn a’i hwyrddydd. Rhown ein golau gwan i’n gilydd, Ar hyd y nos.

All the stars’ twinkles say All through the night This is the way to the realm of glory, All through the night.

Other light is darkness To show true beauty The Heavenly family in peace All through the night.

O, how cheerful smiles the star, All through the night To light its earthly sister All through the night.

Old age is night when affliction comes But to beautify man in his late days We’ll put our weak light together All through the night.

R. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) – Festival Te Deum We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee, Cherubin, and Seraphin: continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy Glory. The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee; The Father: of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true: and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.

Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage. Govern them: and lift them up for ever. Day by day: we magnify thee; and we worship thy Name: ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.

Hendrik Andriessen (1892-1981) – Kyrie and Agnus Dei from Missa Te Deum Laudamus Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912) – A prayer for Ukraine Bozhe velykyi, yedynyi, Nam Ukrainu khrany, Voli i svitu prominniam, Ty yii osiny.

Svitlom nauky i znannia Nas, ditey, prosvity, V chystii liubovi do kraiu, Ty nas, Bozhe, zrosty.

Molymos’, Bozhe yedynyi, Nam Ukrainu khrany, Vsi svoi lasky y shchedroty, Ty na liud nash zverny.

Dai yomu voliu, dai yomu doliu, Dai dobroho svitu, shchastia, Dai, Bozhe, narodu I mnohaia, mnohaia lita.

Lord, oh the Great and Almighty, Protect our beloved Ukraine, Bless her with freedom and light Of your holy rays. With learning and knowledge enlighten Us, your children small, In love pure and everlasting Let us, oh Lord, grow. We pray, oh Lord Almighty, Protect our beloved Ukraine, Grant our people and country All your kindness and grace. Bless us with freedom, bless us with wisdom, Guide into kind world, Bless us, oh Lord, with good fortune For ever and evermore.

Charles Hubert H Parry (1848-1918) – Never weather-beaten sail Never weather-beaten sail more willing bent to shore, Never tired pilgrim’s limbs affected slumber more, Than my wearied sprite now longs to fly out of my troubled breast: O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest.

Ever blooming are the joys of Heaven’s high Paradise, Cold age deafs not there our ears nor vapour dims our eyes: Glory there the sun outshines; whose beams the blessed only see: O come quickly, glorious Lord, and raise my sprite to Thee!

Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978) – Ubi Caritas Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur. Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero. Amen.

Where charity and love are, God is there. The love of Christ has gathered us together. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us revere and love the living God. And from a sincere heart let us love one another. Amen.

John Rutter (b. 1945) – Prayer for Ukraine Bozhe Ukrainu khrany, dai nam silu, viru, nadiyu Pochuy nashu, Amin.

Lord God, guard and shelter Ukraine; grant her strength, Lord, hope, Lord, and salvation; Hear our prayer, Amen

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) – In paradisum from Requiem in D minor Op.48 In paradisum deducant angeli: in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem.

May the Angels lead you into paradise: may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy City of Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus, who once was a poor man, may you have eternal rest.

Charles Hubert H Parry (1848-1918) – I was glad I was glad when they said unto me, We will go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded, as a city, that is at unity in itself. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces.

Thomas Tallis (c 1505-1585) – If ye love me If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter. That he may bide with you forever: E’en the spirit of truth.

The Leidse Cantorij

The Leidse Cantorij has been associated with the monumental Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden since 1968 and is the permanent choir of this church. She contributes monthly to the Sunday celebrations. The choir consists of about 30 advanced amateur singers. The repertoire ranges from Anglican choral music, to German/Spanish/Italian polyphony and the early Baroque.

In addition to the traditional Advent concerts in the Hooglandse Kerk, the choir regularly sings Evensongs. The choir played an important role in introducing this tradition in the Netherlands. In 2005, the Cantorij cooperated with the wedding service of H.H. Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Anita van Eijk. The Leiden Cantorij is also making itself heard abroad. In 1998 the choir had the honor of being the first Dutch choir to sing Choral Evensongs in St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Since then, Evensongs have been cared for at cathedrals in Rochester, York, Peterborough, at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and at Gloucester Cathedral.