Goodall, Howard: Sure of the sky, sure of the sun (CSS)
choral sheets
Setting: Mixed Voices
Length: 16 pages
Published: August 4, 2014
Publisher: Faber Music
Item number: 0571571565
ISMN: 9780571571567
Setting both English and German texts, Sure of the Sky, Sure of the Sun - Des Himmels sicher, der Sonne sicher is a haunting and moving reflection on the futility of war. The 5-minute piece for SATB choir and brass was premiered at one of the UK's three main World War I centenary commemoration events on 4 August 2014. It was launched by the London Symphony Chorus, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Chor and Coldstream Guards, at a twilight event attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, and a number of world leaders, all gathered together in the tiny woodland cemetery of St Symphorien near Mons, Belgium - the resting place for the first and last British, and the last Commonwealth, soldiers to die on the Western Front.
The texts are 'May, 1915' by Charlotte Mew (1869-1928), and 'To a Missing Friend' by Goldfeld, a German Jewish soldier killed in action, the poem was discovered by Jewish military historian, Peter C Appelbaum.
The brass parts are available on special sa le from the Faber Music Hire Library (hire@fabermusic.com)