Exeter & Devon choirs sing with Seth Lakeman for the lockdown anniversary

Choirs from across Devon are currently singing to thier own phone or laptop, filimg themselves, ready to be montaged together with Dartmoor based multi award-winning folk singer Seth Lakeman. 

Dartmoor based Seth Lakeman’s new Song for Devon, How We Remember, will be premiered on asongforus.org from 12.30pm on 23 March 2021, the first anniversary of lockdown 1. A nationwide project, A Song for Us commissions leading music creators across genres to write new songs inspired by the people of their county. A Song for Devon – How We Remember by Seth Lakeman is commissioned by Sound UK, Beaford, Villages in Action and Exeter Phoenix and is available online for 12 months.

A Song for Us recognises the positive role community choirs and ensembles play in keeping people connected. Devon folk organisation Wren Music, who run choirs across Devon including Exeter,  worked with Seth to write a choral accompaniment for the song. Members of Wren Music’s choirs and Barnstaple Community Choir have learnt the song from Wren's professional community musicians using online teaching videos and live rehearsals on Zoom. These singers will feature in the song’s online premiere.

Wren Music’s music making groups are open to anyone. Participants don't require any experience to join as music is taught by ear.  Normally working across Devon, lockdown moved Wren Music’s choirs and orchestras online.

Marilyn Tucker, Wren Music’s Creative Director, explained: “We are so happy to be part of this project and celebrate community music. It was a challenge to move online in April 2020, but we knew we needed to do everything we could to be there for our players and singers, as well as reach out to new people who we have welcomed over the last year. It’s very special to have this opportunity to work with Seth on A Song For Us. As a charity, and being part of the arts sector, we have faced some challenging times, but our whole team has risen to the challenge and our community has felt the positive effect. We are excited to offer this opportunity to our community and hope it won’t be too long before we can perform it in person!”

Originally planned to be performed live in Exeter Cathedral, lockdown 3 has meant the song will now be performed and recorded remotely and edited together as a video montage.  A poignant snapshot of where we are as a nation.  However a public performance will be planned as soon as restrictions allow. 

Seth’s song celebrates the community spirit of the people of Devon and the beauty of the county.  The things we’re both missing and cherishing. Commenting on the song Seth says:

“I grew up on the southwestern edge of Dartmoor in Devon and I’ve always loved the landscape around here. …I hope [the song] will give people a chance to celebrate all wonderful aspects of our county.”

Alongside Seth Lakeman (Devon), A Song for Us commissions This Is The Kit & Bucky (Bristol), Gwenno (Cornwall), Skinny Pelembe (South Yorkshire) and Gavin Bryars (East Riding) to write new songs in the first in a series of County Songs.  A Song for Us will expand, commissioning another ten composers through regional partnerships, to be announced in spring 2021.

These commissioned songs form part of a growing music map of the country to mark this challenging time.  The public can share a favourite song that holds special meaning from this period on asongforus.org. Budding songsmiths anywhere are also invited to create and upload original songs that capture their experience of the pandemic

A Song for Us celebrates our community during the COVID 19 pandemic. It seeks to encapsulate the coming together and solidarity during the past year. It recognises the nationwide losses we have experienced, whether at a distance or personally. Above all it celebrates the power of music to bring us together, whether as creators, performers or listeners.

Everyone is now invited to learn ‘How We Remember’ by joining Wren Music’s online community on Wren Music's website