A brief postscript to Steve Schwartz's review of Sancta Civitas and Dona
nobis pacem, a CD I've yet to hear.  My first encounter with Dona nobis
pacem was Maurice Abravanel's version on Vanguard from the late 60s, which
I loved from day one.  I remember being a little worried by the American
inflections in some of the words but surely an American choir has as much
right to sing the music of a quintessentially English composer as his
compatriots, especially when most of the words are by Whitman.  Shortly
afterwards, I bought Abravanel's version of the 6th symphony, which I also
thought very fine: in fact, apart from Lenny's 4th, and Mitropoulos's and
Stokowski's early records, I can't think of another American version of
a VW symphony from the LP period.  Eventually, Boult's Dona nobis was
released.  I was disappointed.  I didn't feel nearly as involved in the
music as I did with Abravanel's.  I realise that Boult is the *man* as far
as VW is concerned and to rate Abravanel higher might smack of heresy.  I
await other opinions.

Steve didn't mention this version in his review.  I bought it on CD a year
or two ago (it's coupled with Flos Campi).  I'm not sure whether he hasn't
heard it, is unaware of it, thought less of it than the others and thus not
worth comparing with - or perhaps it's nla.  In any event, I'm pleased to
have it and I wish Vanguard would re-release the 6th as well because it
still sounds great.  Would that Abravanel had given us some more VW.

Richard Pennycuick
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