REMEMBER WWI

I'm really pleased to announce that I have been made the Official Composer for the REMEMBER WWI organisation!

REMEMBER WWI aims to inspire and encourage individuals, families, schools, communities and organisations to reflect on the sacrifice and service given during WW1 and the impact it had across society, and to get involved in volunteering and community projects around issues important to their communities.

Yesterday I attended the REMEMBER WWI launch, and you'll have to watch this space to see what my contribution is going to be!  But what I can say at the moment is that huge plans are already in progress and the photo shows me putting my name on the pledge board and making my commitment.

THE DANE TREE

I'm feeling chuffed today having just finished my new work for Daventry Choral Society for their 25th Anniversary Concert.  It's the setting of a wonderful poem by Alfred Noyes called The Dane Tree.

Alfred Noyes wrote the poem especially to celebrate the opening in 1925 of, what was at the time, the largest broadcasting station in the world, and the first long-wave station by the BBC.  As one author wrote "The poem stresses the strange and compelling contrast between ancient and modern on Dane Tree Hill, a site of historic importance, one of the oldest military encampments, and a place mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry VI."

The poem is very English and full of brooding, dark imagery which I hope I've conveyed by adding baritone solo to the choir and strings!  Really looking forward to the premiere next April!

For more information about the premiere concert on 25th April 2015 click here.