Last Friday 4th April 2014 Twin Song received its world premiere at Coventry Cathedral, performed by the Volgograd Children’s Symphony Orchestra and members of the Coventry Youth Wind Orchestra, conducted by Yuri Ilynov. You can hear it in two versions here: the salon version with piano, and the performance at the Cathedral (singers: Louise Wayman and Sam Fox; narrator (voicing Mother Russia) Victoria Agache).
https://soundcloud.com/derek-3-1/sets/twin-song
Twin Song is a symphonic poem marking 70 years of friendship between Coventry and Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) – a bond of friendship officially formed in 1944 made them the first twin cities in the world. It was a friendship instigated by ordinary people – a tablecloth stitched with names by women in Coventry in 1942 was sent to Stalingrad, and a book signed by 16,000 Russian women was sent to Coventry (these can be seen in the Panorama Museum in Volgograd and the Herbert Peace & Reconciliation gallery in Coventry resepectively). Hence the reference to “Unseen fingers trace the stitches, names of strangers” in the song. Motherland Calling – the name of the 2nd movement – is the nameof the great statue depicting Mother Russia that stands on Mamayev Hill in Volgograd.
You can find out more about the twinning here:
http://www.talkingbirds.co.uk/twin60/
Myself and Peter Cann worked with pupils from two Coventry primary schools in the creation of Twin Song – Southfields and Aldermoor Farm – and their ideas are reflected in the finished piece. Indeed the pupils of Southfields heard the unofficial premiere of parts 1 & 3 on Weds 2nd April, as the schools hosted a workshop/concert by the visiting Volgograd orchestra. The final lines of the piece –
Better to be twins
Than be cold
to each other.
– were the wonderfully apt idea of a pupil at Aldermoor Farm.
We’re grateful to Carol Brown who masterminded the orchestra’s visit and to Coventry City Council whose Small Arts Grant scheme helped fund the commission.
Lyrics by Peter Cann:
1st Movement – I am Coventry
I am the bicycle,
wheels are turning.
Turn
from Godiva riding naked down the street.
Turn
on the table, let them feel the two tone beat.
I am the bicycle,
wheels are turning.
Turn
to the three tall spires stretching for the sky
Sky Blues
where are you? Oh Ricoh, Ricoh why?
I am the bicycle,
wheels are turning
Turn
I am the bicycle
Wheels are turning
Jets are burning
Lathes are spinning
Casting
Forging
Clocks and watches
Engines
motors
Tractors
Turbines
Armour
Weapons.
Clocks and watches
Engines
motors
Tractors
Turbines
Armour
Weapons.
2nd Movement: Motherland calling.
Mother Russia-
Oh my children,
Through the smoke that burns my eyes
I watch you stumble,
Fingers clawing through the stone
of the wounded city
Oh my children.
Mother Russia Oh the mothers
Singers Oh the mothers
Mother Russia Oh the mothers
Singers From the smoke that burns their eyes
Mother Russia from the smoke that burns their eyes
Singers they turn their faces.
Mother Russia they turn their faces.
Singers Hands are reaching from the stone
Mother Russia Hands are reaching from the stone
Singers of the wounded city
Mother Russia of the wounded city
Mother Russia And the mothers
Singers And the mothers
Mother Russia And the mothers
Singers Turn their faces
Mother Russia Turn their faces
Singers Towards the ocean
Mother Russia Across the ocean
Singers 2000 miles
Mother Russia Their eyes are meeting
Singers 2000 miles
Mother Russia Their eyes are meeting
Singers 2000 miles
Singers Their eyes are meeting.
3rd movement: The Twin Cities
Coventry
Volgograd
Coventry
Volgograd
Coventry
Volgograd
1.
Unseen fingers trace the stitches,
names of strangers.
Unheard voices try the sound of
names of strangers.
2.
In ravaged cities
connected cities
across the distance
across the decades.
3.
Unseen fingers trace the stitches
names of strangers.
Unseen fingers trace the stitches, names of strangers.
Unheard voices try the sound of
names of strangers.
4.
In changing cities
connected cities
across the distance
across the decades.
5.
In spite of walls and politicians
a bond unbroken
In spite of difference and suspicion
a bond unbroken.
6.
In changing cities
connected cities
across the distance
across the decades.
7.
Now a chill wind is ruffling the borders.
Now a chill wind is ruffling the borders.
8.
Better to be twins
Than be cold
to each other
Better to be twins
Than be cold
to each other.
Better to be twins
Better to be twins
Than be cold
Than be cold
to each other
to each other
9.
Coventry
Coventry
Volgograd
Volgograd
Coventry
Coventry
Volgograd
Volgograd
Coventry
Volgograd
posted by Derek Nisbet 11.4.14
Words from the Birds 