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The University of Southampton
MusicPart of Humanities

Concert commemorates Battle of Agincourt

Published: 15 September 2015

The University of Southampton is holding a commemorative concert to mark 600 years since the Battle of Agincourt1. Student and professional musicians will join forces to perform a programme of music with links to the history of the battle.

The event will feature the world premiere of a piece titled Turning Points2 by renowned pianist, composer and Southampton professor, David Owen Norris3 – which in part, draws upon the events of Agincourt.

Professor Norris comments: “I’ve set to music some fascinating Agincourt documents: the Bishop of Winchester’s speech in Parliament, poignant laments from war-widows, and a truly horrifying description of the cut and thrust of the battle.”

Turning Points will be performed alongside the overture Agincourt by English composer Walter Leigh (1905 – 1942) and Sir William Walton’s (1902 – 1983) music for the 1944 film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V, starring Laurence Olivier. Many of Walter Leigh’s family members will be guests at the concert, which takes place at 7.30pm Saturday 19 September in St Mary’s Church, Southampton.

Conducted by recent Southampton graduate Joe Beckhelling, the performance will see students from the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra (SUSO) and the Southampton University Brass Band (SUBB) join guitarists and pianists from the University’s Music department, along with young guest musicians from the Coda Fiddle Orchestra of Bournemouth and Highcliffe Junior Choir.

These young musicians will experience performing alongside distinguished professional opera singers Amanda Pitt, Peter Savidge and Mark Wilde, as well as the vocal ensemble, New London Chamber Choir. Rising young actor Hasan Dixon will read from Shakespeare’s Henry V, and from the correspondence of Walter Leigh.

The Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Linda Norris, and Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Angela Clear, will be guests of honour with Dean of Humanities at the University of Southampton, Professor Anne Curry.

The Agincourt commemorative concert is an official Agincourt600 event. Tickets can be obtained from www.ticketsource.co.uk/davidowennorris

 

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