The Great Silence was a project, and a new choral anthem, conceived in 2014 to commemorate choristers and organists who fell in the First World War. It helped to raise funds for charities supporting choral music, choristers and young musicians.
The anthem was premiered on 26th September 2016 in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle during a concert celebrating the Queen 90th birthday. The occasion was only the second time that four choirs, all with links to the Queen, had come together in their 900 year history, at the suggestion of HRH The Earl of Wessex, Patron of Windsor Festival. The four choirs were The Children and Gentlemen of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, The Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, and The Choir of The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy. The premiere was conducted by Huw Williams.
The patrons of The Great Silence Project were: General The Lord Dannatt GCB, CBE, MC, DL, Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley MusM Hon, FGS, The Venerable (Air Vice Marshal) Jonathan Chaffey CB, RAF, The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO, Dame Judi Dench CH, DBE, FRSA and Juliet Nicolson.
The anthem was premiered on 26th September 2016 in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle during a concert celebrating the Queen 90th birthday. The occasion was only the second time that four choirs, all with links to the Queen, had come together in their 900 year history, at the suggestion of HRH The Earl of Wessex, Patron of Windsor Festival. The four choirs were The Children and Gentlemen of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, The Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, and The Choir of The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy. The premiere was conducted by Huw Williams.
The patrons of The Great Silence Project were: General The Lord Dannatt GCB, CBE, MC, DL, Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley MusM Hon, FGS, The Venerable (Air Vice Marshal) Jonathan Chaffey CB, RAF, The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO, Dame Judi Dench CH, DBE, FRSA and Juliet Nicolson.
History of The Great Silence
The idea for Samuel Bordoli to compose a First World War commemorative anthem was conceived in March 2014 in the Hall of the Worshipful Company of Founders in the City of London by project coordinator, Paul Cordle. It was decided that the work would be dedicated to former choristers and organists who fell in the First World War and the title was inspired by author Juliet Nicolson’s acclaimed book ‘The Great Silence’. The anthem was commissioned by General the Lord Dannatt a few months later. The suggestion that the anthem should follow the words of Ivor Gurney’s poem ‘Song and Pain’ was made by the Dean of Windsor, The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO. Soon after the premiere, on Sunday 9th October 2016, he used the poem to illustrate the sermon he gave in St George’s Chapel when a group of Korean War veterans were present.
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The composer, Samuel Bordoli, HRH The Earl of Wessex and The Right Reverend David Conner discuss The Great Silence after the premiere in St George's Chapel at Windsor Festival. Copyright © Gill Aspel Photography 2016
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The Children and Gentlemen of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, The Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, and The Choir of The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy in St George's Chapel Windsor Copyright © Gill Aspel Photography 2016
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The First World War and Choristers
Former choristers of all ages (and many who were under age) joined the ranks during the First World War. They came from across the United Kingdom (which then included what is now the Republic of Ireland) and the British Empire from all walks of life. They died in their thousands. How many is not known. To give an idea of the potential scale of loss, in 5 churches alone, in and near London, there are as many as 65 choristers named on memorials. The total number of choristers among the First World War dead listed on the countless memorials across the country and Commonwealth remains to be learned. Tributes to them can be found on the memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral. |
After The War
Bewilderment and grief swept over the nation in the years immediately following the end of the First World War as it attempted to come to terms with the scale of what had happened. The conflict had torn apart the fabric of society and the task of rebuilding fell upon the shoulders of those whose loved ones would not return. The idea of a two minutes commemorative pause was established by King George V in 1919 on Armistice Day; this first great silence was observed across the whole land. The process of regeneration and remembrance had begun in the spirit of optimism that this had been the ‘war to end all wars’.
Silence in music is a powerful metaphor. After the sound stops, all that remains is an echo. The anthem has been composed to commemorate choristers who fell during the First World War. The text, ‘Song and Pain’, was written by Ivor Gurney, a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral from 1900 – 1906. He conceived it during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 at Crucifix Corner whilst serving with The Gloucestershire Regiment. The spirit of the words reflects the mood at the end of the war; it captures the idea of resurrection, that from the ashes, the soldier poet will endure his pain and enter the House of Joy.
Bewilderment and grief swept over the nation in the years immediately following the end of the First World War as it attempted to come to terms with the scale of what had happened. The conflict had torn apart the fabric of society and the task of rebuilding fell upon the shoulders of those whose loved ones would not return. The idea of a two minutes commemorative pause was established by King George V in 1919 on Armistice Day; this first great silence was observed across the whole land. The process of regeneration and remembrance had begun in the spirit of optimism that this had been the ‘war to end all wars’.
Silence in music is a powerful metaphor. After the sound stops, all that remains is an echo. The anthem has been composed to commemorate choristers who fell during the First World War. The text, ‘Song and Pain’, was written by Ivor Gurney, a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral from 1900 – 1906. He conceived it during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 at Crucifix Corner whilst serving with The Gloucestershire Regiment. The spirit of the words reflects the mood at the end of the war; it captures the idea of resurrection, that from the ashes, the soldier poet will endure his pain and enter the House of Joy.
Major Performances
6th September 2018, 7.30pm, 100 Days to Peace, Central Hall Westminster
Royal Choral Society, Philharmonia Orchestra
July 2018, The Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium
Choir of HM Chapels Royal
12th November 2018, 11am, The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy
Choir of The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy, Conducted by Philip Berg
14th May 2017, 3.15pm, St Paul's Cathedral, Eve of the centenary, in 1917, when former St Paul’s Cathedral chorister, John Pritchard, was killed whilst serving the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC)
Choir of St Paul's Cathedral, Conducted by Andrew Carwood
13th November 2016, St Clement Danes (Central Church of the Royal Air Force)
Choir of St Clement Danes, Conducted by Simon Over
26th September 2016, St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
Choir of HM Chapels Royal, Conducted by Huw Williams MVO
6th September 2018, 7.30pm, 100 Days to Peace, Central Hall Westminster
Royal Choral Society, Philharmonia Orchestra
July 2018, The Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium
Choir of HM Chapels Royal
12th November 2018, 11am, The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy
Choir of The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy, Conducted by Philip Berg
14th May 2017, 3.15pm, St Paul's Cathedral, Eve of the centenary, in 1917, when former St Paul’s Cathedral chorister, John Pritchard, was killed whilst serving the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC)
Choir of St Paul's Cathedral, Conducted by Andrew Carwood
13th November 2016, St Clement Danes (Central Church of the Royal Air Force)
Choir of St Clement Danes, Conducted by Simon Over
26th September 2016, St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
Choir of HM Chapels Royal, Conducted by Huw Williams MVO
Supporters
We are most grateful to the following organisations that made donations to The Great Silence project.
Grenadier Guards
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Royal Army Chaplains’ Department
Honourable Artillery Company
Royal Air Force Chaplains and Churches
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors
The Worshipful Company of Skinners
The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
The Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
The Worshipful Company of Cutlers
The Worshipful Company of Plumbers
The Worshipful Company of Founders
The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
The Worshipful Company of Weavers
The Worshipful Company of Scriveners
The Worshipful Company of Glaziers
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants
The Worshipful Company of Builders' Merchants
The Worshipful Company of Launderers
The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers
The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals
Sandringham Financial Partners
Three Cheers Pub Company
Blue Frontier IT Limited
TEXT BY PAUL CORDLE (Taken from The Great Silence Website) 2016
We are most grateful to the following organisations that made donations to The Great Silence project.
Grenadier Guards
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Royal Army Chaplains’ Department
Honourable Artillery Company
Royal Air Force Chaplains and Churches
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors
The Worshipful Company of Skinners
The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
The Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
The Worshipful Company of Cutlers
The Worshipful Company of Plumbers
The Worshipful Company of Founders
The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
The Worshipful Company of Weavers
The Worshipful Company of Scriveners
The Worshipful Company of Glaziers
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants
The Worshipful Company of Builders' Merchants
The Worshipful Company of Launderers
The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers
The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals
Sandringham Financial Partners
Three Cheers Pub Company
Blue Frontier IT Limited
TEXT BY PAUL CORDLE (Taken from The Great Silence Website) 2016
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