Lest We Forget

The work of artists, poets and composers forms some of the most eloquent responses to the grave crisis and unutterable horror of the First World War. As humanity confronted its potential for destruction on a grotesque and unprecedented scale, new depths of musical and artistic expression emerged. Existing texts and music took on fresh poignancy, as if fulfilling their true prophetic value. Composers in England produced works whose plangency and resonance have not diminished in the century since they were written. The Choir of Chichester Cathedral are led by their conductor Charles Harrison in an exploration of these moving choral and organ works, marking the centenary of the end of the Great War. With a total of 18 boy choristers and 6 lay vicars, Chichester has one of the smallest cathedral choirs in Britain. The lay vicars are all professional singers and live in or near the Cathedral Close. The choristers are educated at the Prebendal School where they start as ‘Probationers’ in Year 3 or 4 (age 7-9), rising to the rank of chorister after about one year. The choir regularly tours abroad, enjoying particularly close links with Ravenna, Bayreuth, Bamberg and Chartres.