John Rutter : Distant Land (A Prayer for Freedom) for orchestra (1991 orch. 2003)

Originally composed for mixed chorus and dedicated to Nelson Mandela.
Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Rutter.

[@maxmerry8470]

I love the almost cinematic "wide-open spaces" start to this gem, its lovely upward-reaching main melody, its nobility of spirit and its sense of peaceful triumph. A fine composition.....

[@stephenfarthing485]

I know the words and I believe that it reflects our own current plight! Only too well!. Distant Land is all of us now! None can sing hymns in services in Churches, Abbeys or Cathedrals. As a Church Chorister myself. I yearn for the freedom to do so! I want to. Providing hope in the dark tunnel we're still stuck in. God willing, I will - with all others that are Choristers - do so.

[@janeenbertschejohnson863]

Lyrics: "I see a distant land: it shines so clear. Sometimes it seems so far, sometimes so near. Come, join together, take the dusty road; Help one another: share the heavy load. The journey may be long: no end in sight: There may be hills to climb, or giants to fight: But if you’ll take my hand, We’ll walk together toward the land of freedom, freedom, freedom. I hear a distant song: it fills the air. I hear it, deep and strong, rise up in prayer: ‘O Lord, we are many; help us to be one. Heal our divisions: let thy will be done.’ I know the time will come when war must cease: A time of truth and love, a time of peace. The people cry, ‘How long? Till all our world can join the song of freedom, freedom. I touch a distant hand and feel its glow, The hand I hoped was there: at last I know. Swords into ploughshares: can it all be true? Friends out of strangers: start with me and you. I see another time, another place Where we can all be one, one human race. The walls will melt away, We’ll come together on the day of freedom, freedom, freedom."

[@johnharshfield4726]

A nice orchestral bath :-)