Cenotaph Requiem Remembrance Release
‘Cenotaph Requiem’, composed by Lieutenant Colonel Simon Haw MBE, has been recorded by the Bands of the Household Division to be released for sale from Sunday 7th November. The piece, dedicated to Her Majesty The Queen, is a Universal Act of Remembrance; a poignant musical reflection on service and sacrifice to the Nation, given by all
soldiers, sailors and airmen in the face of adversity.
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Haw MBE explained, “‘Cenotaph Requiem’ was written in the summer of 2018, to mark the 100th Anniversary of the end of the First World War 1914-1918. The work uses a number of texts from the Latin Mass - Introit, Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Pie Jesu, In Paradisum - to form an overarching Requiem structure, interspersed with five instrumental movements - Marne, Gallipoli, Jutland, Somme, Passchendaele - that provide a chronological narrative of the First World War.
“The Latin and Instrumental movements derive their thematic material from 3 motives first presented in the Introit, thereby linking the poignant, descriptive instrumental elements that portray the most appalling and heartfelt conditions endured by soldiers, sailors and airmen during the war, with moments of quiet reflection, solitude and prayer, found within the Latin text.
“Cenotaph Requiem is intended as an epitaph to all who served in the First World War. But the enduring nature of warfare is constant, therefore in many ways, it should be regarded as a work for all time.”
The work was first performed on Thursday 1st November 2018 in the Guards’ Chapel, by the Coldstream Guards’ Band, Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, members of the Commonwealth Orchestra, Commonwealth Scholars’ Choir and Commonwealth Children’s Choir, conducted by Lieutenant Colonel Simon Haw MBE. During the different sections readings were given by former Senior Chaplain London District and Chaplain to the Household Division, Lieutenant Colonel The Reverend Stephen J H Dunwoody CF who stated, “As we listen to Cenotaph Requiem, we are very much focussed on hearing and reflecting on our shared heritage, the commonality of our gratitude and the importance of recognising how the sacrifice of the past enables our future. Art and music has always managed to bridge this dynamic of looking to the past in the present and to the future almost.”
Online downloads of Cenotaph Requiem will be available from the 7th November with 100% of proceeds of all sales will be donated to Service Charities. The work can be previewed by following the links below:
I Introit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVVRhs41l3s&feature=emb_logo
II Kyrie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOW8RoFo694&feature=emb_logo
XI In Paradisum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATG0gPKUMpo&feature=emb_logo
.gif)
