Work
The Captives' Hymn
for two-part treble voices, trombone and piano
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About
This setting of an anonymous poem came from a request for something with an ANZAC flavour for Auckland Boys’ Choir. The choir was also to host a visiting Australian choir and it was felt that something uniting the two countries would be an appropriate addition to the repertoire. While much war poetry doesn’t rise much above the banal or descriptive, this short poem combines both a petition to God for support in captivity as well as a more general plea for freedom and justice.
The music includes references to the song Now is the Hour (a popular piece sung as troops left for war), and two well-known military bugle calls (Taps and The Last Post) which are hinted at rather than quoted in their entirety. The trombone part was requested due to there being a player in the choir.
Commissioned note
Written for Auckland Boys' Choir
Difficulty note
Suitable for children's and school choirs
Text note
Anonymous text
Performance history
09 May 2012: Performed by Auckland Boys' Choir, at St Luke's Church, in Auckland.