DESCRIPTION:
Choristers Gavin Moralee and Fiona Wright, the 1992 Young Choirboy and Choirgirl of the Year, perform a duet on Andrew Lloyd-Webber's 'Pie Jesu', the best-known section of that composer's Requiem Mass. Lloyd-Webber's setting of the Pie Jesu, which, along with the rest of his Requiem, was written in 1984 in memory of his father, became something of a classical hit and has been widely recorded by both sopranos and trebles (for whom it was originally scored) and performers of other voice parts. Sarah Brightman, who performed the piece for years, recorded a gold- and platinum-certified version of the piece with Winchester Cathedral chorister Paul Miles-Kingston, who performed alongside Brightman in the premiere of the Lloyd-Webber Requiem.

In 1992, fourteen-year-old Fiona and twelve-year-old Gavin bested 2000 other young church, chapel, and cathedral choristers in their victory in the Royal School of Church Music's Young Choirboy and Choirgirl of the Year competition. Fiona, who sang in numerous youth choirs, was a chorister in the chapel choir at Sutton Valence School at the time of her win in the RSCM competition. Gavin, meanwhile, was a chorister at St Barnabas' Church in Dulwich, where, in 1991, he was appointed Head Chorister.

Fiona and Gavin are joined on this recording by the Rosebury Chorus and Chamber Orchestra.

[ Latin text: ]

Pie Jesu,
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis requiem.

Agnus Dei,
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis requiem.

Sempiternam, sempiternam requiem.

[ English Translation: ]

Merciful Jesus,
Who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant them rest.

Lamb of God,
Who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant them rest.

Everlasting, everlasting rest.

[ Recording available on the disk 'Hear My Prayer: Royal School of Church Music Young Choirboy & Young Choirgirl of the Year' (Pickwick PCD, 1995). ]