'Requiem'
by Toby Nelms
This piece we performed on the 16th May 2009 was composed by a student at the school where our director, Jean Holt taught until July 2009.
It was first performed by the school chamber choir in 2007, and by popular demand was performed again by Cantabile.
Toby is now studying at the Royal College of Music having being awarded a composition scholarship. We hope that one day we will perform another of his compositions!
"Requiem" - A note from Toby:
My inspiration for writing the Requiem has
come from many composers but, in particular, Karl Jenkins. It has taken 18
months to complete and is based on the traditional Latin text combined with
English passages from the Bible.
After composing the different sections, I
then arranged it for the choir who started rehearsing in September 2006. The
orchestration was fully completed in February 2007.
I would like to thank the School Chamber Choir and invited musicians for their generous commitment. I would especially like to thank Jean Holt for the tremendous support and encouragement she has given me, without which this Requiem could not have been performed.
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Jean Holt, the Requiem Concert's music director, said:
"For me,
this has been a unique event and it has been a real privilege to be involved in
such a concert. From first rehearsals, Toby's music has both inspired and
amazed all of us and I can only say he has a truly remarkable gift.
I would like
to thank the choirs and band for their unstinting efforts and commitment; also
the orchestra for their fantastic contribution to tonight. I am also very
grateful to St Luke's Church for, once again, allowing us to perform here and supporting us in so many
different ways.
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