SONGS FROM 'DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI.'
Even as a child of ten or eleven, I was captivated by the poetry of Wilfred Owen. Perhaps it was his role as active combatant (rather than conscientious objector) that appealed to my 'boys own' mentality. He was a soldier poet, as cool with words as with weapons.
Later I came to appreciate Owen's ability to embody in his work a humanity which transcended its subject and spoke of a deeply personal, but at the same time Universal paradox.
Of course the War Requiem of Benjamin Britten is never very far from these songs, but I can't think of a better model upon which to lean when setting text.
The work grew initially from a school project with the pupils of Southwell School in Hamilton. The original protagonist was the (then) baritone Christopher Doig.
The work was fully revised and enlarged in 1978 and performed once in the Christchurch Town Hall by the Canterbury Trust Orchestra under Dobbs Franks, with the Harmonic Society Choir, and Michael Tatchell baritone.
It also included an electronic tape ingredient.
As in most situations where new work is played there were heroes and villains. I leave it to you to give out these roles to the participants: orchestra, choir, soloist, recording engineer........
Later I came to appreciate Owen's ability to embody in his work a humanity which transcended its subject and spoke of a deeply personal, but at the same time Universal paradox.
Of course the War Requiem of Benjamin Britten is never very far from these songs, but I can't think of a better model upon which to lean when setting text.
The work grew initially from a school project with the pupils of Southwell School in Hamilton. The original protagonist was the (then) baritone Christopher Doig.
The work was fully revised and enlarged in 1978 and performed once in the Christchurch Town Hall by the Canterbury Trust Orchestra under Dobbs Franks, with the Harmonic Society Choir, and Michael Tatchell baritone.
It also included an electronic tape ingredient.
As in most situations where new work is played there were heroes and villains. I leave it to you to give out these roles to the participants: orchestra, choir, soloist, recording engineer........