For the Fallen | Ayr Choral

Ayr Choral's Autumn concert this year reflects the widespread focus by choral societies and orchestras on the commemoration of the end of World War 1 in November1918. Dona nobis pacem, with words by Walt Whitman and music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, reflects experiences of both the American Civil War (Whitman) and World War 1 -when Vaughan Williams enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a stretcher bearer carrying injured and dying men from the trenches, and experienced at first hand the horrrors of the 3rd Battle of Ypres when 1,265,000 men - mainly British, Germans and French - died. Dona Nobis Pacem was written in 1936 just as the storm clouds again gathered over Europe.

In contrast, Howard Goodall's Eternal Light is a lyrical, reflective and emotional modern "requiem for the living" focussed in particular on "interrupted lives". Goodall's inclusion of the Canadian John MccRae's 'In Flanders Field the poppies grow...' again touches on World War 1.

Our soloists, cellist and pianist are all young and enormously talented Scottish professional musicians, as is our newly appointed dynamic and insightful Musical Director Andrew McTaggart.