One of the most profound 20th century musical works about war is Benjamin Britten's War Requiem of selections from the Latin Requiem Mass and the soldier-poet Wilfred Owen. Perhaps less known is a piece of similar character, Dona Nobis Pacem by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Unlike Britten, who as a medically-frail pacifist would not be called on to serve in World War Two, Vaughan Williams volunteered for the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1914, despite being 42 years old. He was later commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. The experience left him with hearing damage that only increased as he grew older, and with a firsthand view of the horrors of modern warfare.
The work that would become Dona Nobis Pacem actually began in 1914, with a setting of Walt Whitman's "Dirge for Two Veterans". Whitman himself was deeply moved by the American Civil War, and Vaughan Williams would take two more of Whitman's poems to fill out what became a full cantata. It also includes a quotation from a speech John Bright MP gave on the eve of the Crimean War and selections from the Bible.
On a more personal note, I performed this work in college as a 1st Bass chorister (though the solos are also within my range). Performing a work of music can generate considerable understanding of its structure and history, the same as constructing these videos. However, the concentration on the minute technical issues (the modern chromaticism, uneven meter of the free-verse poetry, and extreme dynamics right out of the gate) which made this a challenging though satisfying piece to sing, can get in the way of really appreciating the music, when one can listen without other mental burdens. It was a harrowing experience almost two decades ago and is no less impactful now, especially as we once again see war.
0:00 Dona Nobis Pacem
3:50 Beat! Beat! Drums!
7:38 Reconciliation
13:36 Dirge for Two Veterans
24:47 The Angel of Death
28:02 Oh man greatly beloved
Score sourced through the International Music Score Library Project / Petrucci Music Library: petruccimusiclibrary.ca/linkh...
This video is produced for educational purposes, for the benefit of amateurs, enthusiasts, and professional musicians alike. No claim of ownership is made over the component parts of this video.
Is there a piece of music you would like to see on this channel? Requests are always appreciated, and if it can be made, it will be.