Dedicated to the dead of the Dunblane tragedy of March 1996,
A Child’s Prayer was first performed in Westminster Abbey the following July. The setting is the more poignant for the scoring of two solo treble parts throughout, which are accompanied by slow-moving chords sung by the remainder of the choir. Despite the tragic circumstances of the time, much is made of the word ‘joy’ which builds to such an intense climax that there is inevitably a lingering feeling of optimism and peace.
from notes by James Whitbourn © 2001
