Jeffrey Skidmore conductor
Rupert Jeffcoat organ
Lucy Russell violin
Gabriella Liandu mezzo-soprano
with refugee communities & schools in Coventry part of Coventry City of Culture

A multidimensional work written for choir, children’s choir, mezzo-soprano soloist, organ/piano and refugee groups, threaded through with music for solo violin/Hardanger fiddle including transcriptions of Arabic music from composer/explorer David Fanshawe's archive. The 100-minute requiem mass was commissioned by Ex Cathedra for Coventry’s City of Culture.

This powerful, emotional piece brings different communities and artforms together - within the framework of a Requiem - in response to the human tragedy of war and displacement, and celebrates those who offer refuge and hope.

Using the themes of war, displacement, sanctuary and hope, the composer created space within the work for refugee groups to perform their own contributions of poetry, music and songs.

Coventry is one of the leading cities for the resettlement of refugees, and this performance in Coventry Cathedral – next to the bombed ruins of the old building – promises to be a particularly poignant moment during its City of Culture year.

UPDATE: This piece has since won an Ivor Novello Award for the Community and Participation Category, presented in association with ABRSM at the 2022 Ivors Composer Awards. The jury called the work “an artistically ambitious and emotionally compelling work that is firmly rooted in the contributions of the participants” and “evocative music with a purpose and meaningful sense of engagement.”