French and English music aims to commemorate end of WWI

THE orchestra and choir of Ormskirk Music Society are presenting their summer Concert on Saturday, June 30 at Ormskirk School.

To mark the centenary of the end of WWI, the programme will be an “entente cordiale”, featuring the music of English and French composers.

Musical director Jim Cooke has composed a medley for choir and orchestra – The Great War – featuring songs of the period.

The orchestra are delighted to welcome two talented soloists, Helena Cooke, the orchestra’s principal flautist, who will play Cecile Chaminade’s sparkling and romantic Flute Concertino, and 17-year-old Jerome Ness on guitar, a student of the Junior Royal Northern College of Music, who will play Malcolm Arnold’s Serenade for Guitar and Strings.

The concert is supported by the Malcolm Arnold Trust, and also includes his Eight English Dances.

And, in keeping with the Great War theme, the orchestra will perform two quintessentially English pieces – Banks Of Green Willow and a Shropshire Lad - by George Butterworth, a promising young composer of the era, who was killed at the Battle of the Somme. Other French highlights include Ravel’s Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte, Fauré’s Cantique De Jean Racine And Caplet: Panis Angelicus.

Jim Cooke’s The Great War medley uses snippets of popular songs and soldiers’ songs from the period, to create a “hero’s journey” narrative.

It is not a comment on war, but a tribute to the spirit and courage of our forebears, who displayed fortitude and optimism despite all odds, with a very British gallows humour in a terrible situation. The concert begins at 7.30pm. Tickets are available online from Ticket Source.co.uk, in advance from Catherine Ness (01695 556 548 or catherine.oms@ btinternet.com) or on the door priced at £10, £5 for under- 8s and students.

For more information, visit ormskirkmusicsociety.org.uk or Facebook facebook.com/OrmskirkMusicSociety

Under the batons of musical director Jim Cooke and choral director Dan Adams the Ormskirk Music Society orchestra and choir perform a broad range of music from the great symphonies and concertos to the work of contemporary British composers, film music and light orchestral and choral selections.