The Sacred Hour: reverie Back to list of works index

This work was published in 1929, and words were added in 1933, when a song version was published. The sheet music of song version was revised in 1952, but in fact neither of these song versions correspond to the arrangement sung by Peter Dawson.

The Sacred Hour shares with In a Monastery Garden the atmosphere of a Catholic religious establishment, with Latin chanting, organ and bells, but though attracting two recordings by the composer and two more by internationally renowned singers, no professional recording has been made since 1948.

For the composer’s own arrangement as a motet, see Ave Maria.

Composer’s synopsis

A young priest is playing the organ, the melody expressing his changing mood. His thoughts are suddenly interrupted by the singing of the “Ave Maria”, and in an access of reverent emotion he resumes playing and almost imperceptibly his melody adapts itself to the “Ave Maria” (which is still being sung) and rises to a grand climax of devotional fervour.

The Sacred Hour– orchestral

Artists	Label	Matrix	Format	Country	Date	Gramophone Review	Locations
Albert W. Ketelbey & his Concert Orchestra, chorus, Ketèlbey	Columbia 5289	WA 8497-2, 8498-2	10” 78, 2 sides	UK	[Apr 29] rec. Jan 29	May 29 p.543	BL, PD, TM, (TM CAS), (TM CD)
Re-issue	- Columbia 2111D		10” 78, 2 sides	US	[1930]
String orchestra, organ (Stoll Picture Theatre), male chorus	Broadcast Twelve 5106	L 0320	10” 78	UK	[Nov 29]	Nov 29 p.256	(TM CD)
New Empire Orchestra, vocal quartet	Decca K 524	MA 1453-1,2,3	12” 78	UK	[Aug 30]	Aug 30 p.135	BL
London Palladium O, male quartet, Pethers	HMV C 2202	2B 671-2	12” 78	UK	[Oct 31] rec.Mar 31	Oct 31 p.186	BL, (TM CD)
Re-issue	- Victor 36373		12” 78	US	[ca.1940?]		WC, PD
Franz Hoffman and his Orchestra	Imperial Z 114	159A	10” 78	UK		Mar 32 p.436	BL
Louis Voss Grand Orchestra	Bosworth BC 1090	CP 790	10” 78	UK	[1938?]
Re-issue “Sentimental Song”	- Soho Archive SOHOA 121		CD	UK	2016
Albert W. Ketelbey & his Concert Orchestra, male chorus, Ketèlbey	Decca F 7618	DR 4755	10” 78	UK	[Nov 40]	Dec 40 p.154-5	(TM CD)
New Promenade Orchestra, Wardour Singers, Robertson	London R 10019	DR 12249	10” 78	US	[1948?]		WC
Orchestra, chorus, organ, Schleger	Ultraphon (Telefunken) A 1036	18191	10” 78	Germany	?[ca.1930]	MMU	WC

Dempsey names the organist on 5106 as R.G. Somers on the Wurliztzer at Stoll Picture Theatre, London. Englund names the chorus on 5289 as Columbia Opera Co.

Ketèlbey’s 1929 recording can be heard at http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/Soundfiles/Orchestral/Soundfiles-Orchestral.htm

Ketèlbey’s first recording is the only complete one. In fact he adds an extra 4 bars of organ solo to help fill out the second side. The total playing time is only 5’ 31”. His second recording is compressed on to single 10” side, and has to make 3 cuts totalling 22 bars, thus reducing the playing time to 3’ 12”. The 1929 recording has no bell (probably added to the score for the Dawson recording). The 1940 recording omits both harp and organ, and has a small male voice choir rather than mixed voices. The timpani part used in this recording differs from the published one.

The version on Broadcast Twelve makes two cuts totalling 25 bars, including the entire second section. The violin solo at the beginning is taken by the entire first violin section, but at other points the scoring is reduced.

Pethers makes two cuts, totalling 19 bars.

Voss has a small orchestra, without organ but with piano. Three cuts totalling 41 bars, with a particularly bad jolt from C major to A major. He can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0U5dyKaM0o&list=PLDdlSzGv6-khkghNzz8X259uHMY6IdPIr&index=31

Robertson has a small male chorus, and replaces the organ with strings. He makes 4 cuts, totalling 33 bars. Hear him at https://archive.org/details/78_the-sacred-hour-reverie_the-new-promenade-orchestra-roy-robertson-the-wardour-sin_gbia0033895f

The Sacred Hour – other instrumental

Artists	Instruments	Label	Matrix	Format	Country	Date	Gramophone Review	Locations
Reginald Foort	Wurlizter organ, New Gallery Cinema, London	HMV B 3197	Bb 16722-II	10” 78	UK	[Dec 29] rec. Apr 29	Dec 29 p.321	BL, (TM CD)
Quentin Maclean, male voice quartet	Christie Unit organ, Regal, Marble Arch, London	Columbia 5640	WA 9692-2, 9691-2	10” 78, 2 sides	UK	[Jan 30]	Jan 30 p.368
Re-issue		- Columbia 2360D		10” 78, 2 sides	US	[1931]
Re-issue?		- Sterndale STE 1315		CD	UK
Eric Halstead	piano	private recording		web	UK	[2002]		(TM CD)
Adam Ramet	pianola	Themodist 30497		web	UK	2022

Foort makes 4 cuts, totalling 31 bars, including the entire second section. In the coda, he plays four bars marked fortissimo quietly.

The Halstead recording is available at http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/3998219-collection-of-ketelbey-midi-files-zip

Maclean plays the work complete, in a fine performance which can be heard at (side 1) https://archive.org/details/78_the-sacred-hour-reverie-part-1_quentin-m-maclean-albert-w-ketelbey_gbia0122842a

(side 2) https://archive.org/details/78_the-sacred-hour-reverie-part-2_quentin-m-maclean-albert-w-ketelbey_gbia0122842b

Ramet can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnJXECPIcRk&list=PL1YBeOI62FT9AAgLrbVth2g2mWPUFlIqD&index=12

The Sacred Hour – solo vocal

Artists	Label	Matrix	Format	Country	Date	Gramophone Review	Locations
Lotte Lehmann (s), 2 speakers, Berliner Staatskapelle (chorus, orchestra), organ	Odeon O 4818	Be 8876	10” 78	Germany	rec.20 Feb 30
Lotte Lehmann (s), 2 speakers, Berliner Staatskapelle (chorus, orchestra), Römer (organ)	Odeon O 4818	Be 8876-2	10” 78	Germany	rec.19 June 30		BL, WC, (TM CD)
Re-issue	- Decca 23058	Be 8876	10” 78				WC
Re-issue	- Jube Classic Jube NML 1414		CD	UK	[ca.2016]		NX
Peter Dawson, chorus, Herbert Dawson (organ), orchestra	HMV C 2595	2B 3501-I	12“ 78	UK	[Dec 33] rec.Mar 33	Dec 33 p.279	BL, WC (TM CAS)
Re-issue	- BBC Records REB 689		LP	UK	1968/1987?		BL
Re-issue	- World Records SM 412		LP	UK	1977		BL, TM
Re-issue	- World Records SH 1078231?		LP	UK		VLM Autumn 84
Re-issue	- Retrospect TCSH 1078234		CAS	UK	1984		BL
Re-issue	- BBC Records ZCF 689		CD	UK	1988		BL
Re-issue	- ABC Records 836042-1		LP	Australia	1988
Re-issue	- ABC Records L-38779		LP	Australia	1988
Re-issue	- BBC Records CD 689		CD	UK	1988
Re-issue	- CDS Records RPCD 313		CD	UK	1994
Re-issue	- Naxos 8.110848		CD		2002		BL, NX, PD, TM

The Lehmann version is a scena with the title "Andachtsstunde" (= Hour of Prayer). The Odeon catalogue has Karl Zander as conductor, perhaps for the earlier recording.

The two sections have the following dialogue spoken over the music, then for the final section Lehmann sings an ethereal descant above the choir. Although there are 4 cuts totalling 36 bars, these are mainly of repeated material. The playing time is 3’ 21“. The orchestra seems to consist of strings, organ, harp and timpani. If it is possible to go "over the top" in the music of a composer is regularly already over the top, then this is the occasion!

Text, transcribed by Clemens Woellner and translated by Tom McCanna

Der Priester Wie still es hier ist Priest How tranquil it is here,

und wie ruh' mein Herz schlägt, and how quietly my heart beats

wenn ich dich spiele, geliebte Orgel, when I play on you, beloved organ,

und wie die Welt da draussen versinkt and how out there the world disappears

mit ihren sündigen Gedanken with its sinful thoughts

und ihrem lockenden Frühling, and its enticing feelings of spring,

ihrem Frühling its feelings of spring

Versuchung So komm doch in uns're Arme! Temptation Just come into our arms!

So komm doch zu unser'm Tanz! Just come into our dance!

Das Leben singt dir ein Märchen, Life is singing you a tale

das viel schöner ist als alle, that is far more beautiful than anything

die du je geträumt hast. you have ever dreamed of.

Der Priester Hinweg, Versuchung! Priest Away, Temptation!

Versuchung So komm doch in uns're Arme! Temptation Just come into our arms!

So komm doch zu unser'm Tanz! Just come into our dance!

Glaub doch an den Frühling, Just think about springtime

die Sonne, die Liebe, komm!. about sunlight, about love, come!

Der Priester Nein, nein, ich darf nicht. Priest No, no, I cannot.

Männerchor Dominus tecum, Men's chorus The Lord be with you.

Benedicta tu Blessed be thou.

Sopran und Chor Ave Maria gratia plena, Soprano & chorus Hail Mary, full of grace.

Dominus tecum, The Lord be with you.

Benedicta tu. Blessed be thou.

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis, Holy Mary, pray for us,

Sancta Maria. Holy Mary.

Der Priester Gelobt seist du, Maria. Priest Blessed be thou, Mary.

Dempsey incorrectly gives the date of the Dawson recording as September 1932: the words were not published until 1933, and then missed the opportunity to use Dawson’s name to promote sales. The date of March 1933 is provided by Englund. Hear this at https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=twek6EAq8iA

There are 3 cuts totalling 32 bars, unfortunately omitting two entire melodic sections. The total playing time is 3’ 52“. The orchestra omits harp, but has bells. Dawson sings the melody in the first and final sections. Curiously, the final verse has Dawson singing the melody to English words, while the chorus sopranos sing a similar melody in Latin.

webpage updated 15 Jan 2023