A Langley composer’s ‘living memorial’ to Royal Marines who have fought and died on Afghanistan’s front line has been performed for the first time.
Adam Gorb, the Royal Northern College of Music’s top composer, wrote Eternal Voices, which was world-premiered at a gala concert to raise money for injured troops.
The composition, described as ‘an exploration of the shattered lives behind the headlines’, was commissioned by the Royal Marines Charitable Trust to celebrate the Commandos’ return from Afghanistan and honour those killed in action.
The words that accompany the music are inspired by troops’ real-life stories and tell the story of a Royal Marine killed in action and the effect on his family.
Each of the 30-minute composition’s five movements were introduced by a ‘headline’ read by newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald.
It was performed by The Band Of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and an 80-strong choir at Exeter Cathedral.
Mr Gorb said: "It is based on war in the 21st century.
"I saw it as a great opportunity to work on a large-scale choral work and something very relevant to communicate something different other than what one sees on the news.
"I wanted to do something that was not obviously anti-war, but something that reflected the time and made the issue into something more intimate."
The Royal Marines Charitable Trust, which will benefit from the concert performance, helps troops and their families, particularly those recovering from injuries.
