New version of Jerusalem goes solo and England song rediscovered

The rousing song Jerusalem and other musical classics have been recorded for the first time as they were originally conceived nearly 100 years ago, following work by a Durham University expert. While researching music for a new CD of the works of composer, Charles Hubert Parry, Professor Jeremy Dibble , a musicologist in Durham University's Department of Music, found that the first verse of Jerusalem was written for a solo voice, as opposed to the grand choral start typical of performances at The Last Night of the Proms. The second verse was then intended to be sung by "all available voices" according to Parry's original published vocal score. Composed by (Charles) Hubert (Hastings) Parry and based on a poem by William Blake, the song, originally written for the 'Fight for Right' movement in 1916, became a rallying call for the women's suffrage (right to vote) movement. It has become a standard of big sporting events, is the anthem of the Women's Institute, and has been used in many famous films. The song has been recorded for the first time in its original form by the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales using Parry's original orchestration rather than the more familiar Edward Elgar version. This and other Parry classics, including music to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee, will feature on a new CD to be released in October 2012, by Chandos Records.