Halcyon Performs Musical Settings Of Letters From WW 1

Vocal ensemble Halcyon augmented by additional musicians, Halcyon presents War Letters – Musical Settings of Letters from WW1,featuring four new works written especially for the project.

War Letters commemorates through music, the service and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women in the First World War during the ANZAC centenary. Four Australian composers, representing four generations, have taken excerpts from original letters written during times of conflict, and set the words to music for singers and ensemble. The letters are filled with both hope and despair, offering deep insight into life for all involved in the war zone, but especially for family and friends receiving and sending them. War Letters explores this interface between letter writing and music, bringing into focus the day to day experiences of the men and women taken up by war.

The four new works are Diana Blom’s Triptych (war letters), Elliott Gyger’s Un poilu australien, Nicole Murphy’s ‘Dearest Mother…’ and Larry Sitsky’s Letter from the trenches.

The artists: Alison Morgan – soprano, Jenny Duck-Chong – mezzo-soprano, Clive Birch – bass, James Wannan – viola, Kaylie Dunstan – percussion, Jo Allan – piano

The Cavalcade of History and Fashion will present a display, Home Front Keepsakes and Nurses Uniforms at the concert.