Dona Nobis Pacem was the discovery of the Festival for me, as previously it had only been a name. It is one of those pieces invoking peace, like Give Unto the Lord or Friede auf Erden, which sadly got overtaken by events almost immediately. Among the texts set are some of my favourite verses from the Psalms (85:10-11). It is not a long work, and the second soprano part is not a voice-strainer (just as well, really) but very intense and it continues the composer’s association with Whitman’s poetry which I explored earlier this year in the Sea Symphony. Our soloists were Johane Ansell and Alex Ashworth.
It was preceded by Vaughan Williams’ Tallis Fantasia, commissioned for a earlier Gloucester 3 Choirs Festival, and I had not appreciated what an adventurous piece this was for its time. Following a popular trend these days, it was unconducted. The orchestra’s leader Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay played The Lark Ascending beautifully. Where I came unstuck was the rhapsody on ‘A Shropshire Lad’ by Butterworth. I think the problem was that I’d been expecting the songs, not a purely orchestral work, but this piece just didn’t do anything for me.
Afterwards I found myself queueing in the beer tent Festival marquee next to the Festival’s Artistic Director. Another time I was next to Geraint Bowen, but I never collected Worcester’s Director of Music to complete the set.