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- Farrington - Voices of the World
Farrington - Voices of the World
Iain Farrington - Voices of the World (organ solo)
Voices of the World was composed for the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey, London. It was commissioned as a tribute to the Commonwealth of Nations, and the piece quotes traditional melodies from a number of different Commonwealth countries. These melodies are generally celebratory, lively and joyful, as well as having rhythmic vitality. They are nearly all derived from popular or folk sources, and represent a tiny snapshot of the huge variety of global musical traditions. The piece is also a celebration of cultural diversity within the UK.
A main jazzy theme is heard at the outset and recurs throughout the piece between the various traditional melodies. The mood is predominantly upbeat and dance-like. Registration can be determined by the player, using a colourful variety of stops to match the different characters of the music. All the melodies are grouped together by their continents: Africa (Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, South Africa), Asia (India, Pakistan), North America (Canada, Jamaica), Australasia (Australia), Europe (UK).
Voices of the World was first performed by Matthew Jorysz in Westminster Abbey, London on 6th May 2023. It is around 5'30 in length.