Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace - Wesley

Samuel Sebastian Welsey's Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace.
Sung by Consortium.
Score from cpdl.org

[@chrismorrissey6112]

This was just sung as the offin of Queen Elizabeth was 9rne into St Giles cathedral. So very emotional. God rest your majesty.

[@Mike-gd4zd]

I was in attendance at Her Majesty the Queen's Thanksgiving of Life Service at St Giles Cathedral and saw the procession inside with my own eyes. When the Royal Scot’s Guard pallbearers place her graciousness on the Catafalque I almost wept with the choir singing this. The amazing choir was arranged by Michael Harris. Incredibly beautiful piece of music by Samuel S Wesley, and such a profound memory for me attached.

[@Pikaling3408]

It was also sung at her coronation when the peers were doing their homages. We will never see another monarch like her again.

[@TJATJA1982]

Wesley's an OG. What a gorgeous piece.

[@basicaa]

"Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." - Victor Hugo

[@garethprice7822]

Stunning organ playing... Subtle, supportive and so perfectly judged. Matches the choir in every way. Lovely use of the Clarinet at 3:15.

[@taylordiclemente5163]

These phrases build until they explode. Wonderful.

[@tomseeley7482]

You know what an ear worm is, right? Well two nights ago I woke up at 3 am-ish with this as my ear worm! It drove me nuts till I got up in the morning, and googled the phrase “is stayed on thee” which was all I could remember of lyrics that I knew went with the music. Then it came back to me! The worm that woke me up was the opening line of the second tenor part, which I had sung in my church choir 45 years ago whenever we did this anthem! What a gorgeous piece of music!

[@Londonfogey]

We sang this in church recently and I had it as an ear-worm for two weeks!

[@fergusbyett8088]

My one was the tenor's "O let my soul live". Took me all morning to figure out which piece it was from

[@bensonwilhelm]

Wonderful felt so emotional listening to this on my father's funeral service.

[@abiodu]

I felt very emotional choosing this piece for our departed brothers Benson

[@rbaltimo]

IS STAYED ON THEE.. THOSE LAST FEW MEASURES DID ME IN EVERY TIME!

[@timwingham8952]

The ending of this piece is so clever. The way it eventually resolves after the previous bars ask questions of whether it will is genius.

[@longpoint4876]

Why, oh why, would anyone give a thumbs down to this absolutely beautiful piece of music? I suppose they don't have the one who gives perfect peace in their hearts...GOD and his son Jesus Christ...

[@clive7092]

Tis truly bizarre. Music of the angels.

[@kapariz44]

One of Wesley's best anthems. Very nice rendition.

[@spurge83]

What a privilege it was to sing this as a child

[@skylarkpm1528]

Each one of the voice parts is stand-alone beautiful. Together they are greater than the sum of their parts. About as perfect and uplifting an anthem as you can get.

[@carolinea1373]

Agreed

[@Texy88]

A choir I once witnessed tried the version of this that has only one tenor part, and it just wasn’t as vocally rich as this version.

[@janephillips9342]

@@carolinea1373 1¹qq

[@richardforshaw8479]

Such emotional harmoniesHe pulled turgid music out of the doldrums in his day by composing this masterpiece.

[@fireflylight1422]

This piece resonates throe out and at 3:18 is where the title comes in to play, leaves you in perfect peace, thank Jesus.

[@mrnnhnz]

This piece is incredible. Man that crunchy ending is so good!

[@karelcuchal1550]

Incredible amazing...

[@mrnnhnz]

@@karelcuchal1550 God, that E flat! So beautiful it's killing me!

[@SempreGumby]

The nice D three measures from the end makes it for me. Nice to be a tenor and singing this at St. Bedes in Atlanta Sunday 10-25-2015. John Whitt directs.

[@bellemeline]

Gorgeous - I never heard this before and was riveted. So very beautiful.

[@gkimball52]

this is a favorite anthem of mine. I first heard it on a record album by King College Choir-Cambridge. Exquisite

[@ashleydickenson2093]

Conducted by then (Mr) David Willcocks, no doubt!

[@samuelm1752]

Sang this in Washington Dc at the national cathedral with my choir on a choir trip marvelous piece I sing tenor

[@johnthornhill8551]

Absolutely wonderful. Serene.

[@12stringsteve56]

Brings back school memories. Hated my time there and one of the only respites was being in the choir. I got selected to do the bass on this in Truro Cathedral and it was magic, especially when the 5 harmonies come together on that last bit of Brian Wilsony genius. Never done God but I revere a load of stuff done in his name. It's about soul and this beautiful piece has it in spades

[@habakkuk76]

Hi Steve - sorry about your school experience, but I'm so pleased this music gave you respite. I've been singing that same bass part in Truro Cathedral for 27 years, and hopefully for a few years more.

[@DaveDexterMusic]

O rly. I was at Truro (the school on the hill) but didn't really get into music until after I left.

[@pennyhisted2256]

My father and his brother were at Truro School in the 1940s ... as was a lifelong friend .... in the 1970s ... I wonder whether you were/are a contemporary of either (C&W links)

[@12stringsteve56]

68-73, when I was 'asked to leave' after one transgression too far. Went up before the head man (one of the few I had any respect for) and asked him 'so Sir, if I said no, wouldn't you say no back?' He replied that (effectively), my ass was outta there. Thank you Derek Burrell - ran out of there like a felched whippet

[@olayinkasanni8191]

Simply Magnificent and Spiritually Refreshing! Thanks. 💓💐💕

[@BTERRENOIR]

quand la musique est au service de la Foi on "touche" Dieu ! C'est sublime.

[@tcr1962]

Richly beautiful.

[@mrnnhnz]

That crunchy ending! Woah. If I listen to it any more I'm going to have to go into rehab. Insanely good.

[@TheLignator]

Revived some very moving and poignant memories. What a wonderful performance. .HbmdB.

[@williamripley3192]

Beautiful harmony.

[@lubiusxc6191]

i love the alto line but having sung both alto and tenor I'm afraid I prefer the tenor. Listening to this brings tears to my eyes it's so good

[@12stringsteve56]

Alto is always the hardest role to get right in a male choir - it takes a pre-balldrop maturity that not many possess

[@idle44]

I'm having this at my funeral.

[@dudeirock555]

thank you for posting this and all of them thunbs up if you heard the crusafiction

[@Raichu234]

omg beautiful stunning I'm crying x

[@SuzyBriseno]

Gorgeous! I'm surprised I've never sung or heard this.

[@ringocomedynews5825]

Did this song when I was in year 13. The base section was stacked we made up like half the choir.

[@BlessedAngel07]

beautiful!

[@joyharp1949]

Beautiful.. ❤️✝️🙏

[@TheKplmstr]

This sublime piece will be performed by my choir on All Saints. I arranged it for SATB instead of five parts. Izzibaggs, don't worry about your colleagues and professors who belittle tonal compositions. No one will ever have heard of them in 100 years. Have you read Alex Ross's "All the Rest is Noise"? Almost everything since 1950 has been nothing but noise.

[@tinkaluisa8540]

Reminds me of my days in the Girls' Choir at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Washington.

[@paradiddleday]

We sang this in our parish choir about 25 years ago. But try to get them to do something like this now! lol

[@ashleydickenson2093]

They sang it at the Queen's Coronation, sixty-three years ago.

[@michaelc9810]

Ashley DICKENSON 67 now!!

[@ashleydickenson2093]

Sixty-six now. I used it for my morning thought today.

[@TJATJA1982]

Wesley knew what he was doing, didn't he. So much more than the average Victoriana crap. This piece has some real stunning moments in it, and the ending has to be one of my favourites.

[@carolynsmith5278]

Beautiful

[@greengoodman1]

Incredible.

[@davidbull2149]

It would be interesting to have a vote on which is the best part to sing in this piece. I have done the top line (as a treble) and both tenor parts, and I've used this (beautiful) recording to try out the others. My vote definitely goes to the top tenor part! If you have never tried it, I suggest you play this recording through again and focus on that part only. It is sublime in places.

[@joshjones6674]

I've done both T parts and I prefer the Second Tenor part.

[@peacedee255]

So true!

[@bachlover99]

Dear izzybaggs, Srick with it, you are right. Tonal music appeals to the soul, it comes from the heavens. Atonal music is an invention of man perhaps to try to prove he can improve on nature.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

Thanks.

[@alphabet661]

ACtually SS Wesley was already pushing the envelope - albeit modestly and adhering to traditional rules of voice leading - in such pieces For example in the last bars, the augmented chords and suspension that delay the move to the dominant and ending. Also great is SS Wesley's cadence on the III and without any intervening chords resumes on the I of major. Though he does everything in accordance to the practice of his times, you see him really pushing it in interesting directions.

[@gaetanepace8981]

Gorgeous! son very Beautiful 🏞️🌠🌠🌈🌅🙏🙏

[@gazdoc999]

Superb piece. A friend specified it for his funeral recently. Stunning and making much more sense than some stupid pop song!

[@cmaurand1]

@izzybaggs I'm with you. If you expect your music to be performed more than once, it has to be accessible to the audience/congregation. We're performing this piece a week from Sunday at St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland, Maine.

[@AlexandrinaVictoria1819]

Coronation homage anthem

[@jord4n193]

❤️🙏❤️😭

[@bachlover99]

@written12 Not sure about your assumptions here - but for my money. There is a clear "tune" which is divided among the upper and lower parts - the lower when they sing alone - otherwise mostly with the top part. But when the do join in perfect harmony (about 3/4 of the way through) the "line" goes from one part to another, and that is the beauty of choral music at its best.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

Wonderful chromatic writing, as always with SS Wesley. Where is the church that this was performed? An equally sweet romantic English instrument as well..

[@rbaltimo]

ANGLICAN SLAINT AND PEW PLANKT IN THE HOLY GHOST

[@missasinenomine]

Isaiah 26/3

[@Ronnie2839]

I am convinced that the Altos have an amazing line through the entire work, but are dramatically overpowered by the other four voices.

[@leongreen8088]

I did not know of this piece until having it as an option for the AGO Service Playing Certificate Test. When I did the parts work, I got this same impression!

[@Liberaven]

its also written too for the altos to get the best out of them

[@hornkraft9438]

It's very good and very peaceful but I miss the consonants -- both beginning and ending. It seems like they were diminished for this performance. Perhaps because the microphones don't like plosives?

[@counterphil]

missed of the "t" in "wilt" in the alto part at 3:30

[@waldenhouse]

A little slow for my liking, but the sentiment was passed very well.

[@amicus1766]

Oh, izzybaggs, hang in there, tonal music is slowly reconquering the world, they are the dinosaurs. Man and woman were meant to soar up on wings of song. Study the greats, emulate them, find your own voice and give the world beauty and truth.

[@bobpetras]

Basses are a little weak on the low register notes to give it balance - especially where the four parts interplay. On their "solo" lines they are perfect.

[@morphthing1]

@choirboyfromhell1 St Alban the Martyr, Holborn, London

[@paradiddleday]

BTW, does anyone have a performace of the Goss setting of Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem they could post?

[@aberjed]

nice organ..which instrument is it ?

[@written12]

A beautiful piece. A question from someone less musically astute and informed than many of you who've posted here: I know you can't subtract any of the voices and still have anything like the full effect; it's not a song with backing harmonies. But still, isn't there a base melody here? If so, which voice carries it?

[@brookeggleston9314]

The different parts trade the melody. It's not always in the same place. If you follow the score, (you don't have to be able to read music to do this) you can see it go from one voice to another. You may need to do it a few times to get the hang of it, but eventually you'll see what's happening. Enjoy!

[@waldenhouse]

Write what YOU want to write; there'll always be some 'clever' sod wanting to correct you. My College Lecturer admonished me in my report by writing "it's too early to try and emulate the Germans at this stage" - very encouraging? I left the year after.

[@raspi093]

@izzybaggs hi there, i understand you, i am also composition student in luxembourg, competely tonal as you, my teacher being atonal and even worse :)

[@alphabet661]

Ah, correction college and presently some advanced topic in music theory. I also compose music. Feel free to chek out my pieces. Oh, and I don't know of too many high schools which teach music theory that extends beyond reading clefs, knowing the major minor scales and maybe identifying I IV V ...

[@alliekempenaar4261]

B

[@terryjones100]

SO WHAT!!!!!

[@Ronnie2839]

Spoken like somebody who took theory in high school. XD

[@bellemeline]

Gorgeous - I never heard this before and was riveted. So very beautiful.