James MacMillan

Padre Pio's Prayer

The setting of Padre Pio's Prayer is after Communion. It was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation and first performed by The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers, in June 2008 at Westminster Cathedral, London, and recorded under the CORO label. Padre Pio (1887-1968), in his lifetime a controversial and holy man, was canonised St. Pius of Pietrelcina in 2002. He is known unofficially as 'the patron saint of stress relief', in accord with his most famous dictum, 'Pray, hope and don't worry.' A powerful setting by James MacMillan of his own English version of Pio's original Italian text, the work is suitable for both service and concert use. For intermediate to advanced standard performers.