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        First performed by the Ulster Consort, conducted by Matthew Owens, on 11 October 2024 in St Molua’s Church, Stormont, Belfast

        • SATB and optional organ or piano.
        • SATB
        • 3 min

        Programme Note

        HEAVENLY GRACE

        O LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true religion that they who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

        Collect for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
        (Book of Common Prayer)

        The Protestant text is from The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany and was written (1549) at a time of enormous political and religious upheaval. But there was a fervent wish for unity, trying to define an Anglican middle way; however, also a desire to control. The words can be seen as pleading, at this time of insecurity, so this emotion dominates my piece with leaning notes propelling the harmony from insecure to hopeful, with every phrase. The mood elevates as ‘heavenly grace’ is ‘defended by (the Lord’s) mighty power’ and closes quietly, in a more meditative mood.

        I am deeply grateful to Matthew Owens and the Ulster Consort for this commission and to Canon Mark Birch for his inspirational analysis of the words.

        Roxanna Panufnik
        30 September 2024