by Caroline Besterman | Jan 1, 2015 | Choral pieces
This project was commissioned by Shrewsbury Bookfest to mark the centenary of World War 1. My brief was to compose several new songs for a youth choir of upper voices, using poetry from WW1, to be performed in a large-scale community concert. The event had a particular link to Gallipoli 1915, and the songs included a poem by the Australian poet Leon Gellert. I was also appointed as Musical Director and I worked with the Bookfest committee to bring the project to completion. The songs were premiered by a combined choir of 120 young singers from different schools around the county. There were also several high-profile bands and choirs such as the Military Wives’ Choir from Shawbury and the Abraham Darby Academy Showband. The concert was filmed for the Arts Council and was recorded by the BBC, with Vicki Archer as presenter. A special programme of the concert was broadcast on BBC Radio Shropshire on Christmas Day. BBC Shropshire broadcast of the concert: Taster film: Bookfest Remembers 2015 (Director: Nick Fogg) Bookfest Remembers Programme (Final): produced by Creative Digital (click to view) Radio interview with Eric Smith, BBC Radio Shropshire 7th November 2015 https://cazbesterman.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/interview-AAC-audio.mp3 ...
by Caroline Besterman | Jun 1, 2014 | Instrumental
I was asked to score ‘Journey’s End’ by Sherriff, a harrowing and heartfelt play about the First World War. Here, my music served to break up the scenes because the director chose not to have physical changes of scene. The music mirrors the bleakness of the main character’s psychological state and the outlook for the soldiers on the Front, with moments of great anguish and despair. The final track was to be looped until the last of the audience had left the theatre. To listen to the recording of ‘Journey’s End’, please click...
