An exciting new Choral Work Drifting in a Starless Space has been commissioned for St Mary’s Opera Ensemble by composer Mark David Boden. Director of Vocal Studies, Mrs Bethan Dudley Fryar, has been working with this exciting young composer to create this organic choral work. To commemorate the Centenary of the First World War, Mark has composed an evocative dramatic work for Narrator, Flugelhorn and Upper Voices based on stunning texts provided by the literary talents of the LV Form English students at St Mary’s Calne.
The English Department and the Vocal Department of St Mary’s collaborated on this project to provide moving, striking poems for the composer. Mark David Boden was deeply impressed by the quality of work provided by the English Department and finally chose four poems by Imogen, Eve, Hannah and Phoebe. Phoebe’s poem No More Dreaming gave the piece its title, inspiring Mark to use a memorable line from the poem – ‘Drifting in a Starless Space’. Eve’s poem The Nurses and Hannah’s poem Let us remember frame the main text of the work – Imogen’s dramatic, emotive portrayal of My Last Patient. All the texts depict a woman’s view of the First World War with immense strength and poignancy, and the composition combines a powerful narration and use of a chorale-based theme to depict the horror of war.
Opera Ensemble started rehearsals of Drifting in a Starless Space last week and will present the winning poems and an excerpt of the work to the rest of the school during Chapel on January 30th. After working with the composer later on this term, the World Premiere of the commission will be an exciting highlight of the Spring Concert on March 22nd, with the composer conducting the Ensemble.
This historic centenary year will be commemorated by St Mary’s Opera Ensemble using the girls’ creativity and original, bespoke moving music.
WWI Composition Winning Poems and Highly Commended Poems chosen by Mark David Boden:
Winners: Imogen, Eve, Hannah
Title of work: Phoebe
Highly Commended Poems:
Phoebe – White Feathers
Yasmin – Women’s WWI
Georgia – A Woman’s Loss
Flugelhorn Solo: Millie
Narrator: Marina
Open Days at St Mary’s Calne:
Saturday 1st February, Saturday 26th April, Saturday 17th May, Saturday 11th October, Saturday 15th November.