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John writes:
‘How can a composer respond to a global tragedy? By writing music is the most obvious thing. Like everybody, I’ve been shocked and dismayed by the events of recent days, and the first thing I wanted to do was write some music that would
respond in my own way.
I went to a late night service in my old college chapel, where they sang a setting of a lovely Ukrainian prayer. So, having encountered the text in another musical setting on Wednesday night, on Thursday, I wrote my own music. I hope the meaning of the text will resonate in people’s hearts.
I had the opportunity to put it together at very short notice with a wonderful group of 300 people (at a workshop I was leading in Wandsworth, London) which still speaks with my own voice, but in terms that reach out to the Ukrainian people in their hour of need.’
Listen to A Ukrainian Prayer on YouTube:
Боже, Україну храни
Дай нам силу, вірі, й надії
Отче наш, Отче наш
Амінь
A literal translation of the text is:
Good Lord, protect Ukraine.
Give her strength, courage, faith, hope. Amen.
The score is available for free by submitting this form. You are welcome to duplicate the score for the sole use of your own choir. You may like to make a donation to a Ukrainian relief charity, perhaps equivalent to the approximate cost of the copies had you purchased them. If you wish, you are free to make an audio or video recording of the piece without a special licence to do so.
A very moving work for this time of incredible destruction. I would very much like to do this work with our College Chapel. Could you please send me a copy and we will donate our chapel collection for the relief fund.
Good day, Dear Mr. Rutter and dear Friends in England. I write to you from Bogotá, in Colombia, South América.
As soon as I listened today your powerful Ucranian Prayer, I felt deeply moved by it and inmediately decided to write to you because we want to sing it in our choir VIVACE. We need as soon as posible the complete SATB score and lyrics to sing it in the next religious service we will be taking part by mid April.
I would like to let you know that I belong to the almost 30 years old choir of 40 devoted women and men amateur singers, “Vivace”. Our director, Maria Beatriz Calle, is an experienced professional and music teacher and have taught music and directed children and adult choirs for over 45 years. Many of us have sung from our early childhood and youth in different places. Most of us are active and recently retired professionals. As a choir we have participated in several international music festivals in Barcelona, Spain (2019), Cancún, Mexico (2017, La Plata, Argentina (2015).
During three years, the former United Kingdom Embassador to Colombia, (2015-2019) Dr. Peter Tibber and his wife sang in our choir. As part of the repertoir we usually sing several Jhon Rutter´s compositions: Christmas Lullaby, Candlelight Carol, The Music´s always there, etc.
We want to join our voices and hearts in this moment to your call and initiative so that the leaders in our world feel moved to stop this insanity right now. Let me please know what should we do in order to get the score and lyrics of the rUTTER´S UCRANIAN PRAYER.
Please receive our warmest regards and prayers.
Could we [please be sent this beautiful, moving tribute.
Would it be possible to obtain a digital copy of the sheet music “A Prayer for Ukraine” before the weekend?
I have been asked to fill in and take a sight reading group and would be honoured to make “Song for Ukraine” the feature piece.
A beautiful piece of music for such an important time.
Might I have a digital copy for my choir to sing here in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, USA?
Dear John Rutter, Mil Gracias! what an utterly exquisite work. I was lucky enough to have sung your pieces between the ages of 15-18 in Toronto Canada with the Jarvis Collegiate Chamber Choir in Toronto. (1980-83) About 25 years ago I moved to Barcelona with my family and have been singing mostly Sephardic and Classical Arabic concerts with my quintet Mashalá. Occasionally your works come into my studio by voice students. They are a pleasure to both sing and teach. The message your piece portrays is the ultimate combination of empathy and collective action of spirit within the brilliance of your composition. Your heart speaks tomes. Could you send a copy to me in Barcelona to do for the Catalan and Spanish public? I would be honoured to spread your message of hope.
Hi ! I will with my choir this Prayer for Ukraine singing. Pleas scores senden !
Thanks Zsolr Regős / Miskolc / Hungary
Tisztelt Uram ! Kórusommal szeretném Magyarországon is megszólaltatni az Ukrajnáért szóló John Rutter,s imát ! Tisztelettel érek egy példányt belőle !
Thank you for this response to a tragic time. I would love to have my youth orchestra perform a short orchestration of this if that would be OK.
I would like a copy of the score
This beautiful and so appropriate. From a contemporary at Caius when you were at Clare, I would love a copy for my local choir. All power to your elbow and the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦
Please could you send me a copy of the music. We will be learning it as a fund raising event.
Years ago, I sang in a small country church choir in southeastern PA. Our director, Bea Howlett, introduced us to John Rutter’s magical beyond beautiful work. When she discovered he’d be doing a choir performance at a local Episcopalian church, we arranged to attend and went for the practice and stayed for the performance. We sat transfixed, emotional, in disbelief at our great good luck in witnessing such talent. We met Mr. Rutter later at a reception in his honor. I will never forget his warmth and graciousness and unassuming demeanor. What a beautiful memory of a special man and his great gift, and of a country choir director who brought these incredible compositions to our Wednesday night practices. She is now gone, but my love for John Rutter’s work still lives on because of her … I remain so grateful.
Thank you for this beautiful prayer. I would like to get a copy of the score so that the st. George’ s Church Academy in New York could perform it.
I would love to have this for my church choir to sing. Thank you in advance and thank you for writing it!
Dear Rutter,
Thank you for this beautiful piece…
How do we get a copy for our choir?
Thanks
Claudio
to receive a free copy of the score, fill in this form.
I would like to perform this piece with my choir in Skerries, Co. Dublin, please tell me how get copies. Thank you. D.
To get a free copy of the score, fill in this form.
Thank you John Rutter for this composition.. If only we would come together, pray together . work together, sing together… for peace among all people. Amen
Zou graag met het koor dit mooie muziek willen delen en zingen.
Graag een exemplaar willen hebben van dit prachtige muziek Hartelijk dank.
Hello Mr. Rutter,
I direct the Penn Yan Community Chorus and we would love to perform your beautiful “Ukrainian Prayer”. May I have a digital copy?
Please advise me how I could obtain the music score of this composition.
If allowed, we wish to sing this masterpiece for Ukeaine in our next concert
in April 18 in Tokyo.
Please let me know your answer as soon as possible .M.Yamada-Yokohama Japan