Two Pieces for Organ: Prelude in D and Exultation

This anthem was commissioned by Sam Wanamaker of the Globe Theatre Trust and first performed at Southwark Cathedral by the Exultate Singers under Garrett O'Brien on 23rd April 1972.In spite of Berkeley's adherence to RomanCatholic traditions the hymn is close to Anglican patterns and shows Berkeley's return to diatonic materials after a more exploratory approach in the 1960s. There is even a melodic blue not or false relation also found in someof Berkeley's earlier music as well as later pieces such as the sixth Prelude and a prominent motif in Nelson. The Irish-born C. Day-Lewis (1904-72) was poet laureate from 1968 until hisdeath.                Peter Dickinson