Sir Hubert Parry: Jerusalem ("And did those feet in ancient time"). Double Bill.

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  • Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
  • I can no longer sing this beautiful hymn, for I choke and blubber. Still, I continue to love and treasure it, and I hope you do too. This is a double bill upload, of which more below.
    Of course, during this difficult time, we all look forward to the day when we can come together again as friends, family, colleagues (and concert-goers!). Stay safe and well everyone.
    BACKGROUND
    Jerusalem is Parry's setting, for choir and organ, of a poem entitled "And did those feet in ancient time" by William Blake. Although Parry composed the music as a unison song, many churches have adopted "Jerusalem" as a four-part hymn; a number of English entities, including the BBC, the Crown, cathedrals, churches, and chapels regularly use it as an office or recessional hymn on Saint George's Day. It was later orchestrated by Sir Edward Elgar.
    Many schools use the song, especially public (private) schools in Great Britain (it was used as the title music for the BBC's 1979 series Public School at Radley College), and several private schools in Australia, New Zealand, New England and Canada. "Jerusalem" was chosen as the opening hymn for the London Olympics 2012, although "God Save the Queen" was the anthem sung during the raising of the flag in salute to HM The Queen. Some attempts have also been made to increase its use elsewhere with other words; examples include the State Funeral of President Ronald Reagan in Washington National Cathedral on 11 June 2004 and the State Memorial Service for Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on 5 November 2014.
    THIS UPLOAD
    Here, I offer two accounts:
    The first is performed by the Choir of Winchester Cathedral and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. I included a few of my photographs in order to illustrate some of the hymn's sentiments.
    The second is a video clip from the Last Night of the Proms 2012 performed by:
    BBC Symphony Chorus
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Jiří Bělohlávek conductor
    Royal Albert Hall, London
    Outside broadcast in Hyde Park, London.
    WILLIAM BLAKE'S POEM
    And did those feet in ancient time,
    Walk upon England's mountains green:
    And was the holy Lamb of God,
    On England's pleasant pastures seen!
    And did the Countenance Divine,
    Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
    And was Jerusalem builded here,
    Among these dark Satanic Mills?
    Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
    Bring me my Arrows of desire:
    Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold:
    Bring me my Chariot of fire!
    I will not cease from Mental Fight,
    Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
    Till we have built Jerusalem,
    In England's green & pleasant Land.
    Beneath the poem, Blake inscribed a quotation from the Bible:
    "Would to God that all the Lord's people were Prophets"
    Numbers XI. Ch 29.v[6]

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