I wrote this piece (both words and music) in response to a competition call run by the choir Voices of Hope for music written during lockdown 2020 .
This is a choir that is local to me and I know some of the singers, having sung with them in another choir (the Singers) so I was very keen to give this a go.
There were over 150 entries and though I didn't win my piece was one of the 6 shortlisted and was singled out for a special recognition. The judges wrote:
"There were so many great entries that really could have won, We got 150 entries down to six and the choir voted purely on a musical basis - they didn't know the gender, age, name or location of the composers. Of these six, these two were praised very highly, and Steve's piece was so popular that we decided it needed special commendation."
".. we would like to credit a Special Recognition to an additional composer whose composition was also very popular with the judges and choir. Congratulations to composer Steve Locks for his piece, Hopeful for Voices Raised. We look forward to performing your piece in the future when we are able to sing together in person."
Hopeful for voices raised singing together.
Come, don't go your separate ways,
but come together in harmony,
the choir, the friends, the heavenly feast of sound!
Rejoice, for one day we will be together!
Happiness! When we again make voice,
again the warm singing,
again the wondrous sound!
Happiness! Joy! Peace, rest. Hopeful but sad.
Forgotten days but not remiss
for even in our troubled times,
we remember sound!
Later on I reused this music, with some adaptions, as the slow movement in a string quintet - here.
Contact me at steve.locks@gmail.com