Eisteddfod commissions two new musical pieces

* British Columbia Girls Choir from Canada.

Llangollen Eisteddfod has commissioned two new pieces of music to reflect the growing number of younger singers entering its choral competitions.

The festival has authorised one piece by Roderick Willliams OBE and the other by its Interim Music Director Dr Edward-Rhys Harry, entitled Reset the World.

Both pieces have been specifically commissioned to resonate with the festival’s teenage entrants and the organisers are encouraging choir leaders from across the globe to enter its Senior Children’s Choir competition, before the upcoming deadline of Friday 23^rd November.

Delight in Disorder is a setting of a poem by Robert Herrick and the music tries to capture the mischievous character of the words. 

It is designed to be suitable for various combinations of broken and unbroken voices across gender.

The piano part features a walking bass that remains unchanged throughout the piece.  While no doubt testing for the performers, hopefully it will also appeal to their sense of fun.

Reset The World reflects themes growing up in today’s world of technology and social media.

Edward-Rhys Harry said: “We have welcomed global performers since the end of the Second World War and to stay current we regularly look to modernise our offering to respond to our changing audiences. When writing the piece, I envisaged what it would be like if the world had its own ‘reset button’ similar to technological devices, hence the title of the piece.

“We hope this gospel-inspired song will be a valuable addition to the audition test pieces choirs choose to perform, as we would like to encourage teenagers around the world to ‘press pause’ and enjoy real world harmony, diversity and culture through music and performance."

Groups of no fewer than 16 voices and aged between 12-18 can enter for the chance to win, following in the footsteps of 2018 winners, British Columbia Girls Choir from Canada.

Successful entrants will compete on the Royal International Pavilion stage for the prestigious title of Children’s Choir of the World.

Closing date for the Senior Children’s Choir category is on Friday 23^rd November 2018 and applicants are asked to contact the Eisteddfod office to obtain a copy of the test pieces.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will take place on 1-7 July 2019.

* For more information on all the competitions or to apply on the Eisteddfod competitors’ website visit: http://eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk/