Composer

:

Percy Whitlock

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

1:27

'Jesu, grant me this I pray' is a choral anthem composed by Percy Whitlock, an English organist and composer. The piece was composed in 1930 and premiered in the same year at St. Stephen's Church, Bournemouth, where Whitlock was the organist. The anthem is written for four-part choir (SATB) and organ accompaniment. It is a setting of a prayer by St. Richard of Chichester, which begins with the words "Jesu, grant me this I pray, ever in thy heart to stay." The text is a plea for the grace and guidance of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer. The piece is divided into three movements. The first movement is marked "Andante con moto" and is characterized by a flowing, lyrical melody in the choir, accompanied by a gentle, undulating organ accompaniment. The second movement is marked "Allegro moderato" and is more rhythmic and lively, with a more complex choral texture and a more virtuosic organ accompaniment. The final movement is marked "Andante sostenuto" and returns to the gentle, flowing character of the first movement, with a more subdued choral texture and a simple, yet expressive organ accompaniment. The piece is notable for its rich harmonic language, which is characterized by lush, chromatic harmonies and unexpected modulations. The choral writing is also notable for its sensitivity to the text, with the music closely following the contours of the words and phrases. The organ accompaniment is also an integral part of the piece, with Whitlock using the full range of the instrument to create a rich and varied sound world. Overall, 'Jesu, grant me this I pray' is a beautiful and expressive choral anthem that showcases Whitlock's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the choral and organ traditions of the Anglican Church.

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