Important new commission for World War One commemoration

2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of the 1914-18 War. To commemorate this event the Birmingham Bach Choir has commissioned the poet Euan Tait and its own conductor/composer, Paul Spicer, to write a major choral and orchestral work for performance in July 2014. The work is called Unfinished Remembering and is planned as a choral symphony (with soprano and baritone soloists) in four movements. In commemorating the Great War, the work also commemorates all wars and, perhaps especially those with which we have been recently involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. Paul Spicer has already produced two successful large-scale choral/orchestral works, the two-hour Easter Oratorio (2000) and the hour-long Advent Oratorio (2009). Unfinished Remembering, however, will be completely different in form to these earlier works and will have four through-composed movements.

The project emanated from the poet Euan Tait and it is his words which must initially describe the work's genesis.

The work is dedicated to The Heroes in Each Generation.

Euan Tait writes of his idea for the work:
'Michael Tippett's opera New Year ends with a choice between "the waters of remembering and the waters of forgetting." We must remember, in order to stay human, the reality of our own brokenness, and the anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War is a powerful reminder. This is not a Requiem as such, but that great poem echoes behind the text's anguished questioning and remembering: to remember, to recall ourselves as we actually are - ugliness and beauty - is incredibly painful, but the only way we have a chance to break free.

For more information download the full press release here.

The commissioning, performing and recording of this major new work requires a huge fund-raising effort (about £98,000), already well in progress. In addition the Choir will be promoting and supporting Help for Heroes, which undertakes such valuable work with the wounded of our times.

We are applying to Trusts and seeking sponsorship from business. A generous Grant of £24,500 from the John Feeney Charitable Trust has secured the commission. The choir is actively fundraising and has produced over £5,000 in the last 6 months with donations and a variety of activities. More fundraising is planned with some original and lively ideas. Dates and details will be published on this site as they are confirmed and we hope that these events will have a wide appeal.

Supporters who shop on-line can help us by registering with www.easyfundraising.org.uk and nominating 'Birmingham Bach Choir' as their chosen charity. Using the fundraising site to access your on-line shop attracts donations to the Choir and the sums become significant if lots of people join in.

If you would like to know more about the fundraising and join us in this exciting project contact commission[at]birmingham.bachchoir.com. If you would like to make a donation to this appeal please email donations[at]birmingham.bachchoir.com.