Song for Hospices

  • for children's voices, choir SATB and small orchestra

  • Duration 3'

written for the Voices for Hospices concert at the Beck Theatre, Hayes, Middlesex, September 2003

The children sing a simple chorus (which works as a two-part round). There are choral parts for SATB (occasional divisi). Scoring is for strings (violin I, violin II, viola, cello, double bass), double woodwind (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon), piano and bass guitar.

First performance

West London Vocal Ensemble, Walbrook Boys' Choir, choirs from Gumley House, Guru Nanak, Harlington, Oak Farm and William Byrd Schools, with Hillingdon Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Paul Plummer

Text

When my life is finally measured in
Months, weeks, days, hours,
I want to live free of pain,
Free of indignity, free of loneliness,
Give me your hand,
Give me your understanding,
Give me your love,
Then let me go peacefully
And help my family to understand.