Choirs 'lost' score in safe hands

The orchestral score for Hubert Parry's 'Voces Clamantium' was found by a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra librarian for a centenary performance at this year's Three Choirs Festival in Hereford Cathedral.

Excitement as lost score found

THE discovery of a lost music score written 100 years ago has completed the line up for this year's Three Choirs Festival in Hereford.

The performance of Hubert Parry's 'Voces Clamantium' by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, full chorus and two soloists was put in doubt after festival organisers failed to find a copy of the orchestral score.

A frantic search by Patrick Williams, librarian of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, eventually turned up a copy on microfiche at the Royal College of Music, possibly the last full transcript in existence.

Geraint Bowen, Hereford Cathedral organist, said: "It is very exciting as it means not only will we be able to go ahead with this year's performance but the music will now be available world-wide."

'Voces Clamantium', or 'voices of them that cry' was first performed at The Three Choirs Festival in Hereford in 1903. Not one of Hubert Parry's best-known works, it never enjoyed the popularity of the Coronation anthem 'I was glad' or 'Jerusalem'.

Its last known performance was in the 1970s, with another performance 10 years later having to be cancelled when the score could not be found.

Now with the full, hand-written tract to work from and a 75-strong orchestra, 180-person chorus and soloists, Carys Lane and Matthew Brook, to perform it, the cantata will be revived in all its glory.

The work will complete a trio of centenary pieces being played at the festival; an 1803 oratorio by Beethoven and a world premiere 'Air and Angels' by Anthony Powers.

l Organisers are reporting excellent ticket sales for this summer's Three Choirs Festival with interest from as far afield as Australia, South Africa and America. Some events have already sold out.