Stay with me, Lord was originally commissioned by the Genesis Foundation as one of three commissioned settings of Padre Pio’s Prayer after Communion, and first performed in June 2008 at Westminster Cathedral, London by The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers. This version was arranged for the 2012 album The Call of Wisdom, an album of a selection of Will Todd’s choral music performed by Tenebrae and The English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Nigel Short. It alters much of the way the work is accompanied both by the piano, but also by adding an alternative strings and harp scoring (full score and parts available on download). Todd’s stirring harmonies, which make full use of the mixed-voice choir with only the very occasional need for divisi, and ability to write the most beautiful melodies has resulted in this work proving very popular with choirs of a range of abilities.
Instrumentation:
mixed choir (SATB divisi) and piano (string orchestra and harp)