Jessica Radcliffe - Remembrance (2018)

"A unique and powerfully empathetic portrayal of the impact the First World War, Remembrance transcends boundaries and the definitions of genres and does what arts do best - expresses life's truths." Issie Barratt, award-winning composer & educatorAs 2018 draws to a close, vocalist and composer Jessica Radcliffe releases her debut album, Remembrance, marking the end of the First World War centenary. Based on her in-depth study of the devastating event through music, poetry, reports, letters and other historical documents, Radcliffe's original compositions and arrangements create a moving tribute.Radcliffe began composing the music for The Remembrance Project in her final year at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. "When the WWI centenary rolled around in 2014, I realised that I knew little of nothing about the conflict, and, having enjoyed studying the poetry of the Great War for A Level English, challenged myself to compose some pieces for my composition module," explains Radcliffe. The pieces 'Remembrance', 'Dulce Et Decorum Est', 'There's A Long, Long Trail A-Winding'. 'Over The Top' and 'And When They Ask Us', made up Radcliffe's final performance, for which she received a First. The album was completed following an emotional visit to the Western Front. "I wanted to walk in their footsteps and see all of these places I'd been reading about for a year come to life. I wanted to present something entirely focused on the humanitarian struggles during the conflict."Remembrance draws on a range of influences and styles form all aspects of Radcliffe's musical journey as well as some of the most poignant literature from the conflict. 'Dulce Et Decorum Est', one of Radcliffe's favourite poems by Wilfred Owen for the strikingly onomatopoeic language is a directed group improvisation; for the title track Radcliffe re-harmonised The Last Poet and set a section of Robert Laurence Binyon's poem 'For The Fallen' and the music echoes the music of the classical composers of the time, Vaughan Williams.

Tracklist:
01. Jessica Radcliffe - Remembrance
02. Jessica Radcliffe - Dulce Et Decorum Est
03. Jessica Radcliffe - There's a Long, Long Trail
04. Jessica Radcliffe - Mr. Anonymous
05. Jessica Radcliffe - Little Boy Lost
06. Jessica Radcliffe - Jack - Jack
07. Jessica Radcliffe - By a Bierside
08. Jessica Radcliffe - I Would Rather Be a Rebel
09. Jessica Radcliffe - Over the Top
10. Jessica Radcliffe - And When They Ask Us