The successful entries were:
1) Michael Perrett aged 20 a student at the Royal Northern College of Music living in Gosport, Hampshire. Michael’s entry is a setting of words by Isaac Rosenberg.
2) William Blake aged 20 studying at Queens Oxford University living in Beckenham, Kent:
William’s piece is called Why art thou so heavy, O my Soul from Psalm 43 vs 5-6:
Why art thou so heavy, o my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me?
O put my trust in God. For I will yet praise him, my saviour and my God.
3) Paul Edis aged 23 from Durham:
Paul wrote both music and text:
Redemption
To cease to blame, to fail to recall
Would leave no shame or pain at all
To forgive and forget is not easy
To muddle through without reflection.
Grudge ingrained in heart and mind,
Nature’s conviction would see us blind,
And yet, if we could only unwind,
To cease to blame, to fail to recall
Would leave us free of guilt,
Happy, once and for all.
4) Thomas Neal aged 18 from Stockton on Tees:
Thomas’ piece is written in memoriam Josquin des Prez (c1450-1521) and is entitled Pange lingua:
Of the glorious body telling
5) Tom Harrold aged 17 from Glasgow:
Tom’s piece is called The Day is Done with text adapted from Longfellow:
The day is done and the darkness falls from the wings of the night as a feather is wafted downward from an eagle in his flight
And the cares that infest the day shall fold their tents like the Arabs and as silently steal away
6) Elizabeth Edwards aged 16 from Camberley, Surrey:
Elizabeth’s piece is called Arise with text from Isaiah chapter 60:
Arise! Shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
The finals will be held in York on May 14th at the National Centre for Early Music. The judges will be me, Chris Wines (BBC) and Delma Tomlin. The occasion will be hosted by the composer Christopher Fox. See separate post for more details.
