A Garland for Linda

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A Garland for Linda is a tribute album for Linda McCartney, released in 2000 by the cancer-fighting organization the Garland Appeal. The album features choral music by ten contemporary composers including her husband Paul McCartney, John Rutter and John Tavener; and is performed by the Joyful Company of Singers under the conductor Peter Broadbent.

Track listing

1. "Silence and Music" (Ralph Vaughan Williams) – 4:50
   • From "A Garland for the Queen" of 1953, the year of her coronation.
2. "Prayer for the Healing of the Sick" (John Tavener) – 8:53
   • From a text by Mother Thekla found in the "Russian Orthodox Service of Holy Unction".
3. "Water Lilies" (Judith Bingham) – 7:35
   • Written in March 1999, drawing on the composer's experience of swimming.
4. "Musica Dei Donum" (John Rutter) – 5:36
   • From a solo chorus text of 1594.
5. "The Doorway of the Dawn" (David Matthews) – 4:53
   • Write about Linda's qualities and feelings.
6. "Nova" (Paul McCartney) – 6:28
   • Written from November 1998 to May 1999.
7. "I Dream'd" (Roxanna Panufnik) – 3:30
   • Arrangement for a cappella chorus of a work.
8. "Farewell" (Michael Berkeley) – 3:30
   • From fragments of literary ideas by John Milton, William Shakespeare and Elizabeth Speller.
9. "The Flight of the Swan" (Giles Swayne) – 6:16
   • Inspired by the death of James Manson, son of a close friend of the author, in 1996 from
     brain cancer
     .
10. "A Good-Night" (Richard Rodney Bennett) – 2:51
    • From a poem by Francis Quarles.

Personnel

The Joyful Company of Singers

• Claire Hills: soprano
• Katherine Willis: soprano
• Henrietta Hillman: alto
• Fiona Robinson: alto
• Lorna Youngs: alto
• Paul Zimmerman: tenor
• Alex Hayes: tenor
• Michael King: bass
• Greg Masters: bass
• Chris E. Williams: bass
• Peter Broadbent: conductor

References