A Ukrainian Prayer

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

90 Responses to “A Ukrainian Prayer”

  1. Susan

    Please send me the score for the Ukrainian prayer. My community choir wants to sing it this spring.

  3. Rose Russell

    I would be very grateful if you could send me a copy of the score of Prayer for Ukraine. thanking you

  4. Naomi Tsuda

    Mr. Rutter.

    Thank you for arranging the sheet music.
    I will be giving a concert on 3 April and would like to sing there.

  5. Igor

    Thank you for your support and prayers! 🙏
    With love from Ukraine.🇺🇦
    Igor

  6. J. S. Langley

    May I request a copy of ‘A Prayer for Ukraine’ to be sung by our village choir, based in the Vale of Evesham, UK. Many thanks.

  7. Graham Clayden

    I was very moved by this and would be very keen to sing it with a small group of friends and very grateful to receive a 4 part score

  8. Victoria Mishler

    I would love to have the sheet music for this. Thank you for your beautiful music, Mr. Rutter!

  10. Linda Evans

    Many thanks John. Our choir the Langcliffe Singers performed this at our Concert which included your “Feel The Spirit” in Giggleswick Chapel yesterday. It was much appreciated by the audience and choir alike.

  11. Sebastian Noichl

    Dear John,
    this musical prayer sounds very inspiring.
    How can I get the sheet music?
    I’m already looking forward to interpreting it with my ensemble.
    Kind regards
    Sebastian

  13. Judith

    Could I have a score to sing with my school choir please?

  14. Anthony T Rauche

    My choir sang “A Ukrainian Prayer” this morning as the Offertory anthem for Palm Sunday. It was very moving and our congregation was enthusiasitc in their response to its prayerfulness and powerful connection to the reality of what is happening in our world. Thank you so very much! (Memorial United Methodist Church, Avon, CT, USA)

  16. M D (Doc) Stephens

    Absolutely lovely! As an Episcopalian choir director, I have taught our choirs many of your magnificent works, and I look forward to teaching this one, too. Please send it.

  17. Mitsue Kawamura

    Dear Mr. Ritter,
    I’m looking forward to receive the score of “Ukrainian Prayer”. I would love the digital copy as well if you could send me one. I would love to have our church sing to say our prayers through music. Ukraine is in our prayers.
    I was wondering if there could be a string quartet version, or if you could give a permission to arrange to a string quartet version. I would love for our church strings to play it in the church service. Thank you so much!

  18. Marie Beausejour

    Dear team,
    Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful music.
    I would love to get a copy of the score for our local choir.
    Thank you.

  19. Cynthia Powell

    Dear Mr. Rutter,
    We in the Stonewall Chorale in NYC would love to have a copy of your Ukrainian Prayer.
    I’m a huge fan of yours.
    Thank you!
    Cynthia Powell

  20. Victoria Anne Gornick

    I direct a small Catholic choir in Northern Minnesota and would love to have them learn this beautiful music. Thank you so much for all of your work! (We sing your “Christmas Lullaby” every year on Christmas Eve!)
    Sincerely,
    Victoria Gornick