No Man's Land (The Green Fields of France)

... and in this case, the green fields of Ulster's County Armagh, which is where I was yesterday.

I was deep in the heart of the Armagh countryside because I had arranged to meet a gentleman who's uncle may - or may not - have been the 'young Willie McBride' of Eric Bogle's very moving song.  I wanted a clearer copy of his photograph to use on the screen during the performance.

I got to thinking about this lad and his friends.  Just teenagers when they left home and hearth, and went to fight - and die - for king and country in the misery of the trenches.

Many of the Ulstermen died in the Battle of the Somme - over 60,000 British Casualties on July 1, 1916 - the first day of the battle.

I can't comprehend that number.  It's at least 10 thousand more than a full stadium at an international rugby match in Dublin for sure.

By November, the British, German and French casualties numbered over a million.  Horrific.  And that was just one battle.

If you don't know the song - there's a nice version by Liam Clancy here.  There's also a good one here in English and German - but I prefer Clancy's version.

New Irish Arts

I was having a poke about on the web and realised someone had posted our appearance on BBC Songs of Praise - it's "Still, my soul be still" - hope you like it. (Since it's from the telly, the words are there so you can sing along with it!)

This was part of the chamber choir and orchestra - I'm looking forward to the big event this summer at the Waterfront when we're part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention. There are still some tickets available for that if you're in Belfast in August!

So it's been a while... and it's been a busy while too. I'm knee deep in an animation project to introduce children to French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese - and maybe Irish eventually too.

I've also been on the fringes of some Songs of Praise recordings - for those not in the know, it's the BBC's longest running weekly music programme on television and is watched in the UK by about four million people every week, and many, many more internationally. It's been a pleasure to be involved in it - and it's not often I get to say that about work!

Added value is that the New Irish choir and orchestra are taking part and as I'm a member, it was fun getting to be on both sides of the show. (The hyperlink is to the trail for the Christmas concert but it gives you a flavour of what we're about.) Jonathan Rea's arrangements of the hymns featuring in the programme are wonderful. It was also recorded in the church I attend, so it's great to recognise lots of friends and family in the pews.

The first programme is for Sunday 13th March - and features Dr Helen Roseveare - she's only on for a few minutes, but she packs her punch as always and it's compelling viewing. Her story is the stuff of a Holywood filmscript - except her experiences of God's presence as she served through her medical missionary work in Africa are challenging. She starts by saying she fell in love with Jesus while she was a student, and finishes by reminding us that at the end, it's only what's done for him that matters.

365:072 New Irish

Lovely concert in Ballymena tonight - chamber choir and some musicians - lovely lovely lovely music. The guy in front wasn't taking part....but he had a great "ear" for music....

365:037 Windmill Lane Studios

No posting yesterday - had an exhausting day recording an album in Dublin. A very early start, and about 12 hours off and on just standing singing fabulous worship songs to the tracks laid down by the orchestra over the previous two Saturdays - possibly one of the top ten most satisfying days? Didn't get home until after 3am but wouldn't have missed it for the world. Too bad we have to wait for months to get the results!

365:034 Sing out!

Big fat high notes for the sopranos make me glad I'm an alto. Windmill Lane Studios here we come!