"THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 13, Issue 328, 5 October 1945, Page 16

"THANKSGIVING FOR VICTORY"

New Composition By

Vaughan

Williams

OWARDS the end of last year, the English composer Ralph VaughanWilliams wrote a "Thanksgiving for Victory" for chorus, orchestra, soprano solo and speaker. The BBC broadcast it, and recorded the performance. The records have now reached New Zealand, and will be heard from Station 2YA at 8.40 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9. The work is performed ky the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC. Chorus and the Luton Choral Society, with the organist Dr. ‘G. Thalben Ball, and conducted by Sir Adrian Boult. The text was selected from several sources, and we reprint the whole of it here for those listeners who would like to have the words before them during the broadcast. we * * Soprano Solo and Chorus LESSED art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers; and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. And blessed is Thy glorious and holy name, and to be praised and exalted above all tor ever. Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thine holy glory; and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy kingdom; and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. (Song of the Three Holy Children, vv. 29, *30, 31, and 33). Speaker GOD, Thy arm was here and not to us, but to Thy arm alone ascribe we all. Take it, God, for it is none but Thine! (Henry V, Act IV, Sc. viii.) Chorus ‘ YB eg O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory. Thine is the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and the earth is Thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all, (1 Chronicles XXIX, 11) Soprano Solo GIVE thanks unto the Lord because He 1s gracious; for His mercy endureth for ever. (Song of the Three Holy Children, v. 67) Speaker and Chorus Fe Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to proclaim liberty to the'captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to comfort all that mourn; to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. ~ (Isaiah, LXI, vv. 1, 2, 3). Chorus By through, go through the gates, prepare T ye the way of the people; Cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones, ; 7 Lift up a standard for the people. } Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the ends of the world-‘"say ye, Behold they salvation cometh, Behold his reward is with him and his work before him.’"’ And they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord; And thou shalt be called Sought Out, a city not forsaken. (Isaiah LXU, vv. 10, 11, 12).

Speaker An they shall build the old. wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations. And they shall repair the waste cities,’ the desolation of many generations, (Isaiah LXI, v. 4). IOLENCE shall be no more heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. Chorus P 7 ew. shalt call thy walls Salvation and thy gates Praise. ; (Isaiah LX, v. 18). Children’s Voices (The Children’s Song from Puck of Pook’s Hill) Y Bagot of our birth, we pledge to thee Our love and toil in the years to be; When we are grown and thke our place As men and women with our race. Father in Heaven who lovest all, O help, Thy children when they call. That they may build from age to age An undefiled heritage. Chorus ; E assy us the strength that cannot seek, By deed, or thought, to hurt the weak; That, under Thee, we may posse Man's strength to comfort man’s distress. Teach us delight in simple things, The mirth that has no bitter strings; Forgiveness free of evil done, And love to all men ’neath the sun. All Voices I By sod of our birth, our faith, our pride, For whose dear sake our fathers died; O Motherland, we pledge to thee, Head, heart and hand through years to be. (Rudyard Kipling.). Soprano Solo FRE Lord shall be thine everlasting light, 4of, om days of thy mourning shall be ‘Cissiah LX, v. 20).