This anthem The Peace That Surpasseth Understanding by John Tavener was commissioned jointly by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and the Ministry of Defence. It was first performed at a Service in Honourof the Passing of the World War One Generation in Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 11th November 2009 in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh by the Choir of Westminster Abbeyconducted by James O’Donnell. COMPOSER’S NOTEIn this setting of Saint Paul’s great statement I have tried in a simple and primordial manner to suggest majesty solemnity and a radiance of peace andbliss. I have also given the music a ceremonial nature by inserting ‘Allelouias’ sounding from ‘Heaven’ (semi-chorus) gradually rising in pitch until they are answered by ‘Allelouias’ from‘The World’ (main choir). The music forms a gradual crescendo reflecting the meaning of the words. At the musical and spiritual climax the full organ sounds four chords which represent The Four Angels beforethe Throne of God. The final chord then transforms into the sacred monosyllable OM which hums around the building representing the Peace and Beatitude of God’s Presence. Duration: c. 4 minutes

Today's Choral Classics is a special collection of pieces from the most exciting talents in choral composition today. From the church to the concert hall it is the perfect volume for choruses seeking a contemporary choral repertoire rich in accessible modern arrangements in a variety of styles. Featuring Paul Mealor's Wherever You Are a Christmas No. 1 for The Military Wives choir and Ubi Caritas his specially commissioned piece for the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; serene miniatures by John Tavener and Eric Whitacre; simple gems by Richard Rodney Bennett and Richard Blackford; and more substantialworks by Judith Weir James Whitbourn Tarik O'Regan and Nico Muhly; choirs of all styles sizes and abilities will discover a wealth of variety of inspiring pieces to delight singers and audiences alike. Today's Choral Classics is a fantastic addition to any music library or choral resource and provides a solid and accessible basis for any contemporary choral concert programme.

LULLABY from The Unicorns (1967/82/86) 'The Lullaby from ‘The Unicorns’ arose from an opera libretto I commissioned from John Heath-Stubbs (1918-2006) in the late 1960s. In his story two unicorns are discovered in a remote part of Africa. Both the East and West want to obtain them for research so they send out rival expeditions. The Western technique is to lure the unicorn with a young girl singing a lullaby. Both East and West capture unicorns but the mythical animals escape in the end. I never completed the opera but I made a six movement suite from it called The Unicorns. There arethree songs and three instrumental numbers and the first performance was given with Elisabeth Söderström and Solna Brass under Lars-Gunnar Björklund at Ekensbergskyrkan Solna Sweden on 31 October 1982. This version was recorded (Albany TROY 760) and my arrangement of the three songs for voice and piano was recorded by Marilyn Hill Smith (Albany TROY365). The career of the Lullaby continued with a version for clarinet and piano which I premiered with Jack Brymer aboard the Sea Princess in the Mediterranean on 29 September 1986. The oboe version was for Sarah Francis and Duke Dobing and I have recorded it for flute and piano (Naxos 8.572287). Lullaby can be played with a variety of solo instruments and is also available for piano left hand and piano solo which I have recorded.' - Peter Dickinson