Music by Thomas Hewitt Jones set to words by Canon Gordon Giles
The Children’s choir of St Stephen’s, Dulwich
Caroline Lenton-Ward, conductor, with Oliver Lallemant (piano), Jill Valentine (viola), Jernej Albreht (clarinet), Joe Downard (bass guitar) and Simon Hewitt Jones (violin)
Release date: 2 November
Label: Vivum Music Ltd
The Children’s choir of St Stephen’s, Dulwich conducted by Caroline Lenton-Ward, sing this new nativity carol by Thomas Hewitt Jones with words by Gordon Giles. Written as a tuneful, warm and nostalgic tribute to the Christmas story, Onward We Go is scored for the children’s touchingly young voices with piano, electric bass and instrumentalists. The carol may be sung in procession in church or as part of a nativity play.
Thomas Hewitt Jones says “I have great fondness for St Stephen’s Dulwich, which played an important part in my formative musical education, and it is extremely fulfilling to write music for them and to see the next generations of young singers coming through.”
Caroline Lenton-Ward says, “The Choristers were delighted to record and film ‘Onward We Go’ by Thomas Hewitt Jones, and enjoyed every second of the process and behaved like true professionals!Many of them are from the Kingswood Estate, a Southwark Council Housing Estate with very high levels of deprivation and a very high diversity of ethnic backgrounds. There is a wide ethnic, social, and religious mix, including Muslim twins who sing at the Sunday eucharist, and several choristers with special educational needs. The choir offers a safe space for children to sing and be creative, which is good for wellbeing as well as providing a musical education, which is often very poorly provided in schools due to funding cuts.Judging by the uptake so far, St Stephen’s seems to be filling this gap.”
Canon Gordon Giles says, “This carol was written in Rochester in the summer of 2023, to a tune that Thomas had more or less written. Thus the text evolved with the music, which is a delightful way of collaborating. The theme is that of children singing on their way to visit the manger, a happy band of little pilgrims wanting to show the new born king their love and to worship him. Their gift is simply to offer love. As the song progresses they draw nearer, passing the shepherds seeing the angels’ light, and the Kings (Magi) with their gifts, all of which are offered to Christ as loving tribute. After these three journeying verses, the children have arrived, and find that by bringing love, it is in fact the infant Christ who has called them so that he can show them his love. In giving they receive. This is the cause of faith, hope and joy which has called young and old into his kingly presence today, just as it always has done. It is the core of Christmas, that we give gifts of love, because we have received love.”
Onward We Go is released on the major streaming platforms. The sheet music, published by Stainer & Bell, is available in both printed and digital formats https://stainer.co.uk/shop/cn72/
As the Central Band of the RAF prepares to premiere Wings of Freedom, a brand new work by British composer Thomas Hewitt Jones in a concert in Cambridge on Sunday 1 October, meet band member Air Specialist 1 Callum Rookes.
Air Specialist 1 Callum Rookes (32) grew up in the nearby village of Sawston. Attending Sawston Village College, Callum started to play the Tuba, age 13, and was soon performing with the school Concert Wind Band and the Cambridge Youth Wind Orchestra. In 2009 Callum moved to London to study the Tuba with Oren Marshall at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance before completing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark.
In 2015 Callum joined the Royal Corps of Army Music and was posted to the Band of the Coldstream Guards. He has performed in state ceremonial engagements including changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and Trooping the Colour. Callum made the move to the blue and gold of Royal Air Force Music in March 2021 and returns to his local town to perform with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge.
AS1 Callum Rookes
West Road Concert Hall is a special venue to Callum as he conducted his first concert with a school brass ensemble in 2006. On Sunday 1 October 2023, 17 years later, Callum will be performing with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force for an afternoon of contemporary music, featuring a new commission by award-winning composer Thomas Hewitt Jones. The new work, entitled ‘Wings of Freedom’ is inspired by and built around the core values of the Royal Air Force: respect, integrity, service, and excellence. Other works include those by composers such as Jan Van der Roost, John Williams and Steven Reineke.
Speaking about the Concert Callum said:
“My family are going to be there. It’s the first time they’ve seen me perform since secondary school so it’s a very special occasion – I’d like to think I’ve improved since then, but we’ll have to wait and see what the verdict is!”
Central Band of the Royal Air Force in Concert, Sunday 1 October, 5.30pm at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
The Central Band of the Royal Air Force was established in 1920 and since its formation has played an integral and unique role in military life and in the musical world. In 1922 they were the first military band to broadcast on the BBC. They play a vital part in State Ceremonial events, as well as performing across the United Kingdom in support of Service charities and Military Tattoos. Central Band have led several commemoration events including the RAF Centenary parade through London in July 2018 when 100 RAF musicians led the parade of over 1000 RAF servicemen and women down the Mall to Buckingham Palace.
For further information, contact Flight Sergeant Tom Ringrose, MCO RAF Music Services on 07896 330103. More information about RAF music can be found here
The Central Band of the Royal Air Force will premiere WINGS OF FREEDOM, a brand-new commissioned piece by award-winning British composer Thomas Hewitt Jones, at concerts in London and Cambridge.
Wings of Freedom receives its premiere in London on 29th September and in Cambridge on 1st October 2023.
A four-movement work for symphonic wind band, Wings of Freedom is inspired by the core values of the Royal Air Force – the beliefs and principles that define and unify the Service. Each movement takes its title and theme from these core values: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence
Composer Thomas Hewitt Jones says, ‘I was so delighted when the opportunity arose to work alongside the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, creating a new large-scale new work to premiere in concert in London this September. I was invited to RAF Northolt to hear a rehearsal, and I was immediately struck by both the impeccable musicianship of the players and their infectious team spirit. Heard at a huge number of high-profile royal and national events each year, the RAF Music Services have quite an amazing pedigree.
The four movements of the piece are directly titled by each of the RAF’s core values. The first movement, ‘Respect’, begins with an epic fanfare which aims to evoke the sheer gravitas and responsibility of the RAF’s role as air defence of the United Kingdom. The second movement, ‘Integrity’, plays with the idea that in order to keep integrity, difficulties (depicted by atonal interjections) must be withstood, and the peaceful long melodic lines will overcome adversity (I was thinking here of the RAF’s Latin motto ‘Per ardua ad astra’ – “through adversity to the stars”.Movement 3, ‘Service’, conveys the idea of fortitude: serving the common good with steadfast determination, intense concentration and unwavering intention.The final movement, ‘Excellence’, celebrates the sheer brilliance and positive contribution of the RAF to the UK’s history. Also, the idea that joy, humanity and world peace can be sought as a key aim of the role of the force – and a small measure of pride in the UK, too!’
The Central Band of the RAF is delighted to have the opportunity to perform this new commission by Thomas Hewitt Jones and to programme it alongside other modern works, as a world premiere. The concerts in London and Cambridge will also raise funds for the Royal Air Force Music Services Association, with whom the Central Band of the RAF has close links, and which provides support to RAF Music Services.
The Central Band of the RAF will be performing at two venues that are new to them, with the aim of inspiring and garnering new audiences. Holy Trinity Sloane Square is a fantastic concert space and allows for a unique collaboration with the Choir of Holy Trinity Sloane Square. West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, is an equally brilliant, but very different venue and the Band looks forward to performing their programmes in two such contrasting and iconic spaces.
Alongside the new commission from Thomas Hewitt Jones, the London concert opens with ‘In Our Service’, composed by Hewitt Jones in honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Both concert programmes include ‘Shimmering Sunshine’ by Kevin Day, ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ by John Williams, ‘Puszta’ by Jan Van der Roost and ‘Tight Squeeze’ by Alex Shapiro. The Cambridge concert also features ‘Fate of the Gods’ by Steven Reineke.
Conductors:
Director of Music, Headquarters Music Services: Squadron Leader Chris I’Anson BMus Hons LRSM LTCL LLCM RAF (conducting Wings of Freedom)
Director of Music, Central Band of the Royal Air Force: Flight Lieutenant Michael Parsons BA Hons LRSM LLCM, RAF
ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY 150th ANNIVERSARY COMMISSION
Founded in 1873, Rochester Choral Society is celebrating its 150th anniversary in March 2023 with a newly-commissioned choral work, Regards from Rochester, by award-winning British composer, and Rochester resident, Thomas Hewitt-Jones. The work received its world premiere on 18 March 2023 in Rochester Cathedral, and the choir will be taking it on tour to Wells and Glastonbury on 21 and 22 April respectively (details here).
Rochester itself is drenched in history. Regards from Rochester celebrates the rich history of the Medway Towns, exploring themes and valuable human stories while relating them to contemporary society. From the first Saxon settlement through to historic stronghold, from pillar of British naval history through to industrial centre and inspiration for Charles Dickens, composer Thomas Hewitt Jones hopes that this “postcard from Rochester” will celebrate and exude compassion for our planet, social conscience, humanity and kindness – values that are incredibly important to our world in 2023.
Director of Music, John Mountford, says: “Rochester Choral Society has passed some significant milestones recently, with 2022 marking the 100th anniversary of our first performance in Rochester Cathedral. We wanted to commission a piece which reflected the diversity of this area’s rich and turbulent history, with a historically accurate, humorous and engaging new piece. We wanted to find somebody with a connection and passion for the Medway Towns and who wanted to help raise awareness of the cultural and social heritage of the area.”
Composer Thomas Hewitt Jones says: “I was delighted when John Mountford approached me to commission this work for Rochester Choral Society’s very exciting 150th anniversary. Quite early on in our discussions, we decided that the richness of Medway’s history was conducive to a new text, so the result is a 10-movement oratorio which we hope tells the story of the area with sweeping melody and angularity where appropriate. I have written it to be as both engaging and as musically interesting as possible. The final movement of the work brings us to the present day, with the audience joining together to sing with one voice.”
John Mountford believes that choral societies are an essential part of national music-making after the COVID era. “Music is central to the lives of so many people; it binds community and enhances wellbeing for singers and audiences alike.
For Thomas Hewitt Jones, writing Regards from Rochester has been an extremely fulfilling and wholesome commission, not only given the richness of local history, but also due to the strength of the musical heritage of Rochester Choral Society dating all the way back to 1873.
“It was a privilege and a pleasure to discover many historic riches of the Medway area, which is often referred to in relation to Charles Dickens, the former Dockyard and as a stronghold to and from London, but in fact contains numerous other riches. Spending extensive time in Rochester library and reading around the history in detail, it became swiftly apparent that the area’s rich social history made up for any perception Medway may have externally of lack of charm; as the text and music were forming, I was delighted to have conversations with local Medway Council operative John Lester, who is a X generation of the Lester family in Rochester and who offered personal anecdotes of life in Medway since the Victorian era, some of which I have incorporated into the work.
Above and beyond the history books and local connections, in this work I have aimed to reflect throughout the work on the nature of life in 2022, both beyond the recent pandemic (which let’s face it indelibly changed life as we know it) and also in the shadow of contemporary issues that affect our society, not least our collective sense of identity and perhaps most importantly, the current climate change crisis.”
REGARDS FROM ROCHESTER – movements
Introduction & Rochester
The River Medway
Early History
The Cathedral
Seven Weeks (The Siege of Rochester)
Down to the Docks (Chatham Dockyard)
That House, 1857 (Charles Dickens) Baritone soloist playing Dickens
The Victorian High Street
Our Changing World (Contemporary themes incl. Social Conscience and Climate)
The Medway Hymn – rousing end with audience singing in unison
Rochester Choral Society, one of Britain’s oldest-established choral societies, has always striven to achieve high standards of singing, from the great choral works to traditional folk songs. Since 1922, the choir, which comprises around 75 singers, aged 18-80+, has performed regularly in Rochester Cathedral.
Rochester Choral Society appeared on BBC One’s Antiques Road Trip in January 2023 in an episode featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, who conducted the choir between 1902 and 1907. After the world-premiere of Thomas Hewitt Jones’ Regards from Rochester, the choral society looks forward to a summer performance of Mendelssohn’s St Paul, which was also performed at their very first concert in 1873.
Thomas Hewitt Jones is an award-winning composer of contemporary classical and commercial music. Since winning the BBC Young Composer Competition in his teens, his music has been published by many of the major music publishers and is frequently heard in concert and on radio, TV and in the cinema. Thomas’s diverse catalogue includes small instrumental, orchestral, choral and ballet works, and his large number of choral titles includes seasonal carols. ‘What Child is This?’ (OUP) has become a choral classic of recent years, garnering large numbers of performances each season. In 2021, he released ‘Can you hear me?’, an acclaimed response to the COVID19 pandemic. His most recent projects include ‘In Our Service’, a special commission from the Royal School of Church Music to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and a ‘Divertimento for Strings’ commissioned by Lucy Melvin to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of her ‘Chamber Players’ courses.
He is also a composer of Library (Production) music for several commercial publishers, with a current catalogue of around a thousand tracks available for licensing which can be heard on a variety of media worldwide. He works from his own cutting-edge studio facility. He was selected to be a member of the BAFTA Crew x BFI Network for 2021-2.
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ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY 150th ANNIVERSARY COMMISSION
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