Jeffrey Skidmore writes:

I need your help to deliver an exciting project.

Over several years we have developed a close working relationship with Alec Roth – an outstanding but uncelebrated composer who understands the range of our work and expertise. Thanks to an extremely generous donation, we have been able to commission Alec to write a new piece called Hymn to Gaia.  Hymn to Gaia will be a 12 minute piece with words adapted from the ancient Greek hymns to Gaia, the goddess of the Earth, challenging us to look after the planet on which we live. The work will have two choir parts – the first, for an adult SATB choir will be written in Ancient Greek, and the second part will be for the children’s choir sung in a modern English translation.  There are only a few works in the choral repertory that successfully bring adults and children together to perform, and Hymn to Gaia will develop and expand that repertoire. It will enable choirs of different abilities to work with children, which many choirs currently find challenging because of the limitations of the repertoire.

I would now like to record this piece alongside two other pieces which Alec has composed for Ex Cathedra: the amazing 40-part Earthrise written for our 40th anniversary, and Shared Ground, a setting of texts by the bestselling author Vikram Seth.  I believe that it is important to champion and disseminate Alec’s work through this recording.  It is in many ways the last piece of our 40th anniversary project.

You may be surprised by this appeal.  Unfortunately, very few classical recordings break even, and we will not be able to make this recording without your help.

We have already received a number of donations and pledges from private individuals as well as from the VCT Trust, which have covered the commission fee and a large proportion of the recording costs.  Sales of the CD will also contribute to the overall cost, but we still have some way to go. I very much hope that you can help us raise the remaining £4,300 that we need.

Please give as generously as you can to ensure that this unique project comes to fruition. If you make a donation of £50 or more we will add your name to our list of patrons, the Host of Angels, and if your donation exceeds £75 we will also send you a complimentary copy of the recording and invite you to the CD launch.

Be an Angel!

Thank you,

Jeffrey Skidmore, Artistic Director