We’ll Sing is a brand new commission project from the Huddersfield Choral Society (HCS) in collaboration with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and composers Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Daniel Kidane.
As choirs across the UK fell silent due to the ongoing pandemic, the choral society decided that in place of their regular autumn programme, they would commission two brand new songs and make them available for everyone to listen to online.
To that end, HCS worked with Marsden-Born and current national Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, to create lyrics for the new songs.
Simon asked the members of the Choir to choose one word that reflected their experiences and feelings of lockdown.
The words were then used as inspiration and a base from which to write two poems, which would form the lyrics for the musical work.
You can read the poems ‘We’ll Sing‘ and ‘The Song Thrush and the Mountain Ash‘ on the official website.
Once the lyrics took shape, Composers Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Daniel Kidane set the words to two beautiful pieces of music.
In the spirit of collaboration, the composers were able to discuss the poems with Simon to fully get beneath the texts and to use music to expand on their meanings.
The two compositions have provided the soundtracks to two new music videos that will premiere online on Saturday 28 November 7:30 pm.
The two pieces are dedicated to Stephen and Philip, two members of the choir, as well as all the singers who have been affected by the pandemic.
The online premiere will feature:
- An introduction from Huddersfield Choral Society director: Gregory Batsleer
- The premiere screening of two music videos for the commission, made by Century Films
- A Discussion with key collaborators from the project including the poet Simon Armitage
The event is free for all to attend, and you can book tickets by following the link on their website, or directly from Eventbrite.
