anthem

(2022)

for large orchestra

Commissioned by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, as part of its Centenary celebrations, with support from the John Feeney Charitable Trust.

  • City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Clark Rundell (cond.) on 29 January 2022 at Symphony Hall, Birmingham (England), as part of their New Sounds Series 2022.

  • ‘anthem’. n. ˈænθəm; anˈt həm. 1 An uplifting song associated with a group or a cause, especially one chosen by a country to express patriotic feelings. 2 a musical setting of a religious text to be sung by a choir during a church service. Derivative adj. anthemic Origin Latin, antiphona. Old English, antemne

    Anthems can unite and can divide. Anthems can speak to a cause and bolster a movement. Anthems can be used as ammunition. Anthems can be rousing or moments of repose, expressions of collective action or prop up a cult of personality.

    -njd.

  • 3 flutes (Player 3 = piccolo)
    3 oboes
    3 clarinets (Player 3 = bass clarinet)
    3 bassoons (Player 3 = contrabassoon)

    4 horns in F

    3 trumpets in Bb
    2 tenor trombones
    1 bass trombone
    tuba

    timpani
    percussion (2 players; Player 1 = bass drum; Player 2 = Kick drum, marimba, 4 tom-toms)

    piano
    harp

    strings (minimum 12.10.8.6.4)

  • 4’

listen

score sample