Prayer for Ukraine

Our joint tour with the Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415 in Germany has been such an adventure! The groups performed in some incredible spaces and are enjoying their time together making music.

We also believe that the transformative power of music can have a lasting, positive impact on audiences and performers. When we heard that several Ukrainian refugees would be in attendance at our concert in Darmstadt, we felt called to offer a musical prayer for healing and peace. For this occasion, David Hill selected “A Prayer for Ukraine” composed by Mykola Lysenko with text by Oleksandr Konysky, which we sang at the conclusion of the program. Watch as Schola is joined by our friends in Julliard415, unified in our musical prayer for freedom and light, learning and knowledge, and kindness and grace for the Ukrainian refugees in attendance and those beyond.

 English translation

“Lord, oh the Great and Almighty,

Protect our beloved Ukraine,

Bless her with freedom and light

Of your holy rays.

With learning and knowledge enlighten us,

Your children small,

In love pure and everlasting

Let us, oh Lord, grow.

We pray, oh Lord Almighty,

Protect our beloved Ukraine,

Grant our people and country

All your kindness and grace.

Bless us with freedom,

Bless us with wisdom,

Guide us into a kind world,

Bless us, oh Lord, with good fortune

Forever and evermore.”

(Translation by Anna Lapwood)