Posted by Susette Horspool on April 22, 19103 at 20:13:58:

In Reply to: Dona Nobis Pachem posted by Julian Larsen on July 27, 19100 at 19:12:09:

: Is the simple round we sing in school really from a major work by Palestrina? If it is, which work and the date? Julian Larsen

It actually is not. It was written by a British composer named Ralph Vaughan Williams in the 1930's, just before WWII. He mixed Bible texts with poems by American poet, Walt Whitman, to create a 5-piece cantata protesting war. The round we sing now was part of the theme that repeated itself throughout the cantata. It has the feel of traditional Latin hymns sung in the early 1600's called "canons". Some equate the popularity and power of the cantata with Handel's "Messiah". Others simply sing this part of it as easy Christmas music. My Interfaith Choir sings it as part of our religious music/peace/brotherhood theme of many different traditions.

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