Requiem by A T Nail

The Professional Recording

Listen Now! Kyrie Offertorium Libera

To mark its 20th anniversary year, on November 13th 2010, The Brighton Chamber Choir premiéred Requiem by Tim Nail.

A T Nail, known to all choir members as "Tim", had already gained a reputation as a fine composer, but this was his most ambitious work to date. Tim is both the assistant director and an indispensible accompanying pianist at Brighton Chamber Choir's weekly rehearsals. Following the successful first performance of Requiem, the choir was delighted to help with the first professional recording of Requiem which took place over two afternoons, June 25th and 26th 2011, at the Church Of The Good Shepherd on Shoreham Beach.

With great patience music director Jane Money, brought together the Brighton Chamber Orchestra (leader Helen Browne), organist James Lloyd Thomas and the Brighton Chamber Choir, to produce a terrific performance of Requiem. Soloists, Katherine Nicholas, soprano and Janet Ormerod, mezzo soprano gave stunningly, evocative performances with the Choir in the Introit/Kyrie, Hostias, On The Other Side Of The River, My Home, Lux Aeterna and finally, Libera Me. Katherine's solo rendition of Pie Jesu is a pure delight.

Sound recording engineers were Martyn Baker and Russell Plowman from Location Multitrack. Apart from the odd interruption from stray footsteps (probably the composer's) and overflying aircraft, the whole work was successfully recorded over two afternoons. Much concentration, silent page turning and no chatter were requested and every singer duly delivered. It was a truly unique occasion much enjoyed in great humour by all. Look out for the CD!

Images from the recording of Requiem

Click on each image for a bigger picture.


Our soloists take a break	First take

Technical adjustments...	Tweaks...
	© Photographs copyright of A T Nail

Tim's Requiem

Inspiration for his Requiem originates in a visit Tim made in 1985 to the Jewish Cemetery in Prague and the museum of artwork created by children in the concentration camps. Since then, the concept has developed from a work related specifically to the Holocaust into one commemorating all those who have died, forgotten and unmourned leaving no trace of their lives.

The music incorporates, in whole or part, four folk songs Tim found in a Prague music shop and to the text of the Latin Requiem Mass he has added two English texts of his own composition: the first a direct response to a picture in the Prague museum; the second about people who have been driven from their homelands and denied any sense of identity.

Scored for soprano, mezzo-soprano, choir, string octet and organ the work is dedicated, in its 20th anniversary year, to the Brighton Chamber Choir.

A word from Tim after the recording...

"I would be very grateful if you would pass this on to all BCC members and other choristers who sang yesterday.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big 'Thankyou' for all your hard work over the last few weeks and especially for your excellent work yesterday making my dream come true! (I'm sorry if that sounds a bit cheesy but it would not have happened without you.) I was very impressed by your professional attitude and infinite patience. It made what was quite a stressful few weeks more than worthwhile, I am indebted to you all and am proud to be associated with the Brighton Chamber Choir.

With many thanks and best wishes,
Tim Nail."