23 November 2008
Islanders can now celebrate Jersey’s identity with a distinctive island anthem written by one of Jersey’s best-known professional musicians.
The Education, Sport and Culture department has published Gerard Le Feuvre’s ‘Island Home’ on the States website for public use, a move welcomed by Chief Minister, Senator Frank Walker, a member of the judging panel for the competition to find an anthem for Jersey.
Senator Walker said he was delighted that a piece written by a Jerseyman had been successful and he hoped it would now be used widely and become recognised as a symbol of the Island’s identity.
“One of the judging criteria was that the anthem should be a rousing piece celebrating the Island which was easy for people to join in with. Now that we have a recording and the sheet music available, I hope there will be plenty of opportunities for the public to get to know it, to use it and to come to associate it in their minds with Jersey .
“Having our own anthem which we can use on occasions when we want to celebrate Jersey should encourage us to take pride in our Island and what makes it such a special place,” he said.
“Island Home” was chosen as the winning entry in the Anthem Competition from a shortlist of five works at a public judging held at the Opera House earlier this year.
Born and educated in Jersey, Gerard Le Feuvre pursued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music, the Banff Arts Centre, Yale and the Sibelius Academy in Finland. Founder of the King’s Chamber Orchestra of London, which is performing in Jersey this weekend, he has a busy professional career as a cellist, conductor and composer.
He has written a number of pieces inspired by Jersey including The Rock, an extended work for orchestra and chorus commissioned to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Jersey ’s formal links with the Crown which date back to 1204.
“I am aware that despite the heartfelt support of those who heard past performances of The Rock, few people in Jersey have had the chance to hear and know my anthem,” said Gerard. “For example, almost no-one knows that the first three notes of “Island Home” are based on the sound of a Jersey cow, and that there are references to some of our sea birds in the melody too.
“I hope when people come to read about and listen to the anthem, they will realise quite how “Jersey” a composition it is. I certainly put my heart and soul into it,” he said.
Gerard Le Feuvre has made new performing arrangements of the piece for a combination of instruments and voice, including a version for four-part choir. They can be downloaded from the States website along with recordings of the anthem made by the King’s Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to the music and texts, there are also sound recordings of the anthem available on the website. They consist of a live version taken from a concert performance of the work recorded at the Opera House as part of the 60th anniversary Liberation celebrations and a version for orchestra alone which can be used at formal ceremonies.
In addition to the music, lyrics and sound recording of the anthem, there is also more information about Gerard Le Feuvre ’s composition and its inspiration on the States website in ESC ’s culture reports and publications section.
Hard copies of the material are also available from the Cultural Development Officer at Education, Sport and Culture, tel.: 449285.
24/11/08
Notes to Editors:
- For further information, please contact
Gerard Le Feuvre
Tel: 01534 484353
Rod McLoughlin, Cultural Development Officer Tel: 01534 449285
Email: r.mcloughlin@gov.je
gov.je