BBC - Singers - Weaving the Future

November 19th 2004
Preston Guildhall, Lancashire

'Weaving the Future 2004' had four central aims:

To celebrate the history, folklore and communities of Lancashire.

To unite the communities of through a unique piece of music specifically written for the county.

To promote choral music to as many people as possible

To help develop the skills needed in choral singing for young people, whilst supporting at the same time their prior knowledge of the choral tradition. The project will also aim to develop new choirs across the region.

'Weaving the Future' was developed by the BBC Singers and Lancashire Music Service, who used this project as a way to establish new choirs and promote choral singing in the region. The project began in Lancashire in March 2004 when Mal Floyde (writer) and Bill Connor (composer) met children and choral groups in the Lancashire region to develop potential ideas for the new commission.

The new piece was celebratory, inclusive and accessible. It reflected local history and folklore, as well as the diverse communities present within the county. The music also reflected the area, and included musical styles prevalent in the region. After the new commission was written, Lancashire schools and groups rehearsed 'Weaving the Future' throughout autumn 2004, in preparation for the concert on November 19th at Preston Guildhall, where the massed choirs of Lancashire joined forces with the BBC Singers to perform in a unique concert, which had as its focus the new commission.

Musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music and students from Lancashire were involved in performing the piece. Between November 17th and 19th, the 24 BBC Singers were resident in the county. During this time they ran teacher training workshops, schools workshops and evening rehearsals with the separate choirs who performed in the concert on the Friday evening.

Over 600 young choral singers from across the County took part in the project, along with a newly formed adult choir (around 100), a choir of peripatetic music teachers, and of course the BBC Singers. Lancashire Music Services also involved the Library and Museums Services which aimed to provide supplementary activities and interest other than purely music. The Libraries, archives and museums were also a valuable resource in the research for this project.

The premiere took place at the Preston Guildhall to an audience of 1100, with over 700 performers on stage. It was broadcast live on BBC Radio Lancashire, with television excerpts on BBC Northwest and BBC1 during Children in Need.