Composer

:

Hubert Parry

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

4:09

Hubert Parry's "Songs of Farewell" is a collection of six choral pieces that were composed between 1913 and 1916. The fourth song in the collection is titled "There is an old belief" and was completed in 1916. The piece was premiered in the same year by the choir of St. Jude's Church in Hampstead, London. The song is set to a poem by John Gibson Lockhart, which explores the idea of death and the afterlife. The text speaks of an old belief that when a person dies, their soul is carried away by a "white-robed choir of angels" to a place of eternal rest. The music is reflective and mournful, yet also hopeful and uplifting. The piece is written for a four-part choir, with occasional divisi in the soprano and tenor parts. The harmonies are rich and complex, with frequent use of suspensions and dissonances to create a sense of tension and release. The melody is largely homophonic, with occasional moments of polyphony and imitation. The song is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct character. The first section is slow and mournful, with a sense of longing and sadness. The second section is faster and more rhythmic, with a sense of urgency and energy. The final section returns to the slower tempo of the opening, but with a sense of peace and acceptance. Overall, "There is an old belief" is a powerful and moving piece of choral music that explores the themes of death, loss, and hope. Its rich harmonies and complex textures make it a challenging but rewarding piece for choirs to perform.

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