JULIAN PHILIPS (World Premiere): using inspired sound effects, Body of Water tells of a man struggling to recall a time he swam for his life, peeling off the fabrications of memory to plunge himself back into the reality of the moment. Immersion, rhythm, sensuality, abstraction stream through his mind… Also, the London premiere of Rory Boyle’s Tallis’s Light, Philip Cashian's spellbinding All Things Wear Silence + Paul Mealor’s chart-topping success Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal.

2012 commemorates the 100 year anniversary of the launching, and sinking, of RMS Titanic.  When she sank, on April 14th 1912, 1,517 people were killed; men, women & children.  A vast Edwardian symbol of grandeur went down on its maiden voyage. 

In August 2011, JAM Trustee, Charles Cochrane swam the Dardanelles, a busy shipping lane with strong currents, to raise money for Philips’ commission.  Moments after his valiant crossing, Charles noted down his thoughts and feelings about the experience, revisiting and expanding them a few weeks later; pleasure, monotony, struggle, vulnerability and relief.  He then shared them with Julian Philips (“one of Britain's most versatile and busy young composers”) and librettist Simon Christmas.  The trio became intrigued and excited by the musical relationship with swimming; the total immersion in the moment, the rhythm, preparation and performance, sensuality and abstraction.

The libretto, inspired by Charles’ notes, will be sung by a lone tenor.  The choir will be used instrumentally, flowing around the soloist, evoking thoughts and emotions through vocalisations and repetition of single words and sounds.

“Immersion in water is a very significant experience.  It affects how you remember and experience things.  Everything is fluid.  Whilst swimming, I found that the reason for being there disappeared, and the act of swimming took over; arm after arm; breath after breath.” Charles Cochrane

In this sporting year, Philips’ 20-minute new work for voice, organ and brass seeks to transport each member of the audience away from a shoulder-to-shoulder London venue into his/her own state immersed in music, thought and emotion.

“Events such as the sinking of the Titanic are the basis for stories we think we all know. But as Charles’ notes reminded us, the story is very much what is constructed after the event. Real experience has a very different quality, one of complete immersion. Body of Water explores these ideas, peeling off layers of memory, narrative and text in an effort to rediscover the immediacy of experience.”  Julian Philips

Body of Water will be premiered at St Brides Church, Fleet Street on 22nd March 2012, performed by the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, Onyx Brass, Daniel Cook (organ), conducted by Nicholas Cleobury.