Exeter musicians compose new works to mark Armistice Day

New music written by Exeter based composers to mark Armistice Day will be performed by the Cathedral choir in a special concert.

Choirmaster and Acting Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral David Davies has composed a new musical setting of the famous Remembrance Day poem ‘They shall not grow old’ which will be performed for the first time on 11 November.

Mr Davies said: "Many conductor-composers have written new pieces of music for special celebrations in the life of the church or cathedral that employed them. This particular piece has a significance for me both because of personal loss and, more widely, as we remember not only those who gave their lives in to past conflicts, but those who continue to do so, on a daily basis, today.”

The other new works on the programme are “Requiem aeternam” by Matthew Cann (an adult member of the Cathedral Choir) and a setting of Moina Michael’s atmospheric text “We shall keep the faith” by Stephen Tanner (Director of the Cathedral Girls’ Choir). This will be the first concert performance of all three works.

The new works will be complimented by other pieces by Fauré, Vaughan Williams, Harris and Bainton that are well suited for Armistice Day.

Tickets for the concert (which begins at 7.30pm on Wednesday 11 November) are available from www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/boxoffice or from the Cathedral 01392 285983.