The cantata ‘1215: Foundation Of Liberty‘ is an hour-long work for chorus, narrator, baritone soloist and orchestra in three parts, and was completed in February 2015. The first part deals with the events leading up to the sealing of the document, both in words of the time and through the character of Stephen Langton, the second with the uneasy hopes shortly after the events at Runnymede, while the final part is a reflection on the meaning and import of Magna Carta from the viewpoint of the present day, incorporating quotations from a variety of contemporary sources.
The work is bound together throughout by the notes representing the 1st, 2nd and 5th pitches of the major scale, thereby encapsulating the idea of “1215” in music.
An extract of the cantata, arranged for the Band of the Royal Marines (pictured, left), was premiered at Runnymede on the morning of 15th June at the rededication of the American Bar Association Memorial by the Princess Royal, and a filmed interview with the composer about the work was also broadcast at the event.
A further extract of the work was performed by the Berkeley Ensemble at the Trial of the Magna Carta Barons at Westminster Hall on 31st July. Plans are continuing for a first full performance of the piece towards the end of the year, while further extracts, such as the setting of Stephen Langton’s ‘Veni Sancte Spiritus‘, are scheduled for performance through 2016.
Featured Article
Rex no potest peccare (The King can do no wrong). How many of you have read Unbroken, the bestseller by Laura Hillenbrand about Olympic runner Louis Zamperini ‘s experiences in World War II? Perhaps ...
Read on...Recent Articles
- Magna Carta's American Adventure
- 800th anniversary of Bristol...
- Bristol 800 concert and...
- Emancipation and Magna Carta
- Terrorism and Tolerance -...
- Magna Carta
- Magna Carta Benches mark...
- ABA Magna Carta Memorial...
Stay updated
If you would like to keep informed about the work of the Magna Carta Trust and our partners, please sign up to the newsletter below.
Become a Supporter
There are a number of significant supporter opportunities. Register your interest early to ensure the widest range of options.
Find out more