07 May 2010
New recordings of the anthem ‘Island Home’ have been published on the States website as part of a commitment by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture to ensure that the anthem is better known by the public.
The recordings were made in February by more than 450 primary school pupils with members of the Jersey Festival Choir, Jersey Island Singers, Holmchase Singers, the Band of the Island of Jersey and the King’s Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the anthem’s composer Gerard Le Feuvre.
The Media Studies Department at Highlands College has also produced a short documentary about the recording sessions, including an interview with the composer about the inspiration which Jersey provided for the composition.
Minister for Education, Sport and Culture,Deputy James Reed, said that he hoped that the availability of the recordings would help the public get to know the anthem. “I attended some of the recording sessions in February with my Assistant Minister, Deputy Anne Dupré, and we were delighted by the enthusiasm of the young people who had come together from 25 different primary schools to make the recording.
“I think it comes across in the recordings and shows what an inspiring piece ‘Island Home’ can be. It is the first anthem written about Jersey by a Jersey-born composer and I hope that it will be enjoyed and recognised by increasing numbers through the availability of these recordings,” Deputy Reed said.
There are 2 recordings on the States website - an instrumental version for brass band and a version featuring the massed choirs and orchestra.
Island home anthem
gov.je