In their annual Masterworks Concert, the Hays Symphony Orchestra, Hays Community Choir and the Fort Hays State University choirs joined in a moving performance of "Dona Nobis Pacem" ("Grant Us Peace") by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Sunday's concert, conducted by Terry Crull, also featured soloists Kathleen Steinert, soprano, Kyle Zecha, baritone, and Blake Connelly, baritone.

The title, "Grant Us Peace" comes from the "Agnus Dei," "Lamb of God," of the Latin Mass. As Crull and HSO conductor Jeff Jordan mentioned by way of introduction, Williams composed the cantata in 1936 as a warning against war and plea for peace as the threat of World War II grew ever greater. Sadly, it is just as appropriate now as it was then.

Williams also drew antiwar texts from other sources -- poems by Walt Whitman describing the horrific effects of the Civil War, a speech by the English Quaker orator John Bright opposing the Crimean War, and portions of the Old and New Testaments. The music, influenced by hymn tunes and other traditional material, illustrates and underscores the emotional content of the texts in broad, sweeping gestures reminiscent of film scores.

"Dona Nobis Pacem," sung by the soprano soloist, serves as introduction and conclusion and repeats at important junctures within the work. Steinert's crystal-clear voice is suited perfectly to Williams' setting of this text. The first plea is followed immediately by parts of Whitman's "Beat! Beat! Drums," a poem expressing war's disruption of everyday life. Chorus and orchestra joined together to produce the frightening effect of "terrible" drums "rattling quicker" and bugles "blowing wilder."

The following section, Whitman's "Reconciliation," in which "Death and Night" cleanse "this soiled world" by bringing enemies together in death, begins as a baritone solo, well-performed by Zecha, and concludes as a chorus. A repetition of "Dona Nobis Pacem" separates it from the next section, a chorus based on Whitman's "Dirge for Two Veterans," which laments the deaths of a father and son in battle.

Connelly then performed the memorable passage by Bright that begins, "The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the land." He also sang well, his dark baritone contrasting nicely with Zecha's brighter tone.

Another repetition of "Dona Nobis Pacem" at a much lower pitch introduces a grim chorus from the prophet Jeremiah -- "Is there no balm in Gilead?"

But then, with a reassuring line from the prophet Daniel, "O man greatly beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee," the mood becomes more optimistic, leading to the final section ending with St. Luke's "Glory to God in the highest" and a thrilling repetition of "Dona Nobis Pacem" in which the voice of the soprano soloist soars above the chorus. Needless to say, orchestra, soloists and choirs received an ovation.

The final event in this season's FHSU series will be the Wind Ensembles concert at 8 p.m. Friday in Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

Ruth Firestone is a supporter of music and theater in Hays. rfiresto@fhsu.edu