This short prelude was written for the commissioning (ordination) of the UK Ambassadors of Grace session of Cadets in May 2001.
It was originally a whole tone higher as it was designed to follow on immediately from an arrangement of Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathrustra
- the main title from 2001: A Space Odyssey which is in the key of C concert.
If you look at the session name and year you'll see why these pieces were chosen to start the celebrations.
The piece is rather arresting in style with a loud ending.
However, if used in the right way, it could be a short but useful item for ceremonial occasions or as a prelude or postlude to worship.
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
John Newton (1725-1807)
SA Songbook 308 (Tune: Amazing Grace! TB 70)
Interestingly I wrote music for three annual commissioning events in a row: Forward 2000 (2000); Amazing Grace (2001); Crossbearers and The Gift (2002). Since that time I have also been privileged to help write the sessional song for the UK Witnesses for Christ session of cadets who were commissioned in 2009.
