The Dream of Gerontius Part I

Based on a poem by Cardinal Newman, Elgar’s the "Dream of Gerontius" is to be performed at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday 18 September, the day before Cardinal Newman’s beatification by Pope Benedict XVI.
The "Dream of Gerontius" is an oratorio for solo voices, chorus, orchestra and organ. Elgar composed the text for the oratorio using text from Newman’s poem which tells the journey of a pious man’s soul from his deathbed to his judgment before God and his settling into Purgatory. Elgar wrote a personal inscription on the original score that stated that the work was "…in memory of Cardinal Newman whose poem I have had the honour to attempt to set to music". On the final page of the score he also inscribed, ‘this is the best of me...’ and always thought it his finest work... Father Jim Brand, who is also an accomplished musician, takes us by the hand in three separate meditations, and leads us though the wonderful work...

"Well Gerontius is going through times of quiet, and times of confidence and faith, and at one stage he feels that there are sort of harpies, ghosts flapping their wings at him and causing him dismay and distress, and all he can do is call out: "Oh Jesus help..."

listen...