Patrick Hawes

Let Them Give Thanks Whom The Lord Has Redeemed

Let Them Give Thanks Whom The Lord Has Redeemed is the final movements of a larger work entitled 'The Angel Of Mons' by composer Patrick Hawes, dedicated to the memory of the British soldiers who, Hawes believes, witnessed an 'angel' during a battle in World War One. This is the Vocal Score and is arranged for SATB Chorus and Piano Accompaniment. This piece was premiered in the latter's own church on the centenary of the date the 'angel' sighting was said to have occurred. The inspiration comes from a mythical story around the Battle of Mons during World War One, where a group of soldiers supposedly received divine help from 'angels'. The story arose from afictional short story by a writer that came to be known as fact, despite the author's desperate pleas otherwise. The music itself is beautiful, perfectly capturing the crisis of conscience and cognitive dissonance that the soldiers must have experienced, being told that they were fighting for King and country, yet at the same time being terrified of their own lives.