 It is written for chorus, large orchestra, soprano solo and incidental tenor and alto solos.Samuel Barber began writing the "Prayers of Kierkegaard" with the commission of the Koussevitzky Music Foundation in 1942, but because of World War II and other interruptions, only completed the work 12 years later.It was premiered on December 3, 1954 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cecilia Society Chorus, and soprano Leontyne Price, with Charles Munch conducting.