for Choir, symphony orchestra, two significant bells, and Concert Band
including the anthem " Not' Île Dé Siez Nous" “Island Home”
Somewhere between Cornwall and France lies the remnant of Lyonesse
An ancient shoal of islands rare,
A taste of heaven, an echo of Eden ,
Where a crescendo of wild life crowns every sunrise,
Songs rising upon the peoples like a halo on God's glory.
Up from the rocks below Jersey arises.
Once walked among great oaks from France ,
Destined to become an island home.
A unique land of unparalleled variety
Its people harvesting fruit from mind, soil & Sea.
In peace and war we live and die.
In lack & plenty we endure.
Now cast we back upon these 800 years with sorrow, joy, respect and thanksgiving
For all the foundation stones our forebears laid,
That we upon our own stones
A taller wall may walk - by grace.
Gerard Le Feuvre – June 2004
(Lyonesse is a legendary sunken land between Cornwall and France )
The background:
Many, while abroad develop an acute romance concerning their roots. Coming back to Jersey a year and a half ago after twenty odd years abroad, I was to discover if pride in my own birthplace was a rose tinted thing, or whether reality would set me up for a fall. In all honesty I think I have come back with my “eyes open” – there are problems anywhere, and Jersey has many to wrestle with. I have, however re-discovered a deep love for the island on my return and particularly in writing “The Rock”. The truth is Jersey is simply stunning; It's a symphony all on its own.
Victor Hugo wrote; “ I love Jersey … It is a beautiful place, with great-hearted people… I love this climate where winter and summer are always mild, flowers, which seem always to be in April, trees of Normandy , rocks of Brittany , the sky, which reminds me of France and the sea of Paris . I love this people which works and struggles, all these good people that one meets continually in your roads and fields, whose faces combine English liberty and French gracefulness, which is another freedom.”
I have attempted by musical symbolism, quotation, and description, to infest this piece with Jersey-ness! Much of this infestation may go by unnoticed, but has been rich and important to me. I have picked out fragments (for example) of Jersey folk songs, which appear all over the orchestral score. I include in this programme some poetry, only a few examples of many poems that have really touched me in my writing. I am immensely grateful to their authors. Poetic pride in our Island is evident over all the centuries that we have historic record. An early example of this is when great Wace (who spent his life in France , and yet never forgot his Jersey roots - one of the most talented sons of our whole history) wrote;
“Jo di e dirai que sui
Wace de l'isle de Gersui,
Qui est en mer vers occident,
Al fieu de Normandie apent.
En l'isle de Gersue fui nez,”
'I say and will say that I am Wace of the Island of Jersey , which is in the sea towards the west, and belongs to the territory of Normandy . I was born in the island of Jersey '
During “the Rock” the bell of HMS Jersey is rung, symbol of the islands defence and pride. During “ Loss and sacrifice ” a recording of the bell of the Stella, which sank off the Casquets in 1899 (the worst disaster in the history of the channel island steamers) and now hangs in the Guernsey maritime museum, will be rang.
1 Jersey – Jewel of the natural world
A wetland walk with Mike Stentiford and Pete Double (many thanks to them). Jersey it seemed to me on that walk, its great sheltering rocks rising above the sea is God's own ‘ Mont Saint Michel', a place of infinite mystery and beauty;
Jêrri (excerpt from a poem by Philippe Langlois who died in 1884)
J'ai veu l' Angleterre et la France,
L'Italie, la Suisse et ses monts;
Qui qu'nouz en aise et qu'nouz en pense,
J'aim mux Jerri et ses vallons:
Nou pâle de lacs et de montangnes,
Nou pâle de vingne et d'orangiers;
Rein n'est pus bé que nouos campangnes,
Rein n'est pus bé que nouos pommiers.
A prendre Jerri tout ensemblle,
Souos tout le touannant du solèi
I'n'y-a pas de pllaiche qui m'semblle
Préférablle d'aucun côtè:
I've seen England and France , Italy , Switzerland and its mountains, and whatever you think I prefer Jersey and its little valleys. We lack lakes and mountains, orange groves, but nothings is more beautiful than our countrysides and our apple orchards. To take Jersey as a whole under the full circuit of the sun, there's nowhere better it seems to me
Les Bieautés d'la Natuthe
(excerpt from a poem by Fraînque Lé Maistre 1910-2002
( by kind permission of the Le Maistre family)
Tch'est qu'ch'est qu'la natuthe, La bieauté et l'èrpos?
Comme tchi admither tout ch'tch'est à l'entou d'sé,
Les mèrvelles de la campangne - les pliantes et les ouaisieaux,
Les bouais et caetera - comme tchi s'exprimmer?
Lé ciel en d'ssus d'nous et not' vièr anmin l'malzard,
Les nuages et la plyie et même les brises étou,
La "lanterne d'la paraisse" et les p'tites êtailes sus l'tard;
Véthitablyement y'a d'la bieauté dans tout!
Et ch'est pour touos nous qué ches belles choses ont 'té faites,
Pour lé pauvre comme pour lé riche - médgian ou moussieu;
Dévrai, mes bouonnes gens, la natuthe est compliète,
Mais ch'est à nous d'réaliser qué ch'est l'don d'not' Bouon Dgieu.
What is nature, beauty and peace? How does one admire everything that is around one The wonders of the countryside, the plants and the birds, Trees etc… how do we explain this?
The sky above us and our old friend the sun, the clouds, the rain and even the breezes too, The moon and the little stars in the night – there really is beauty in everything.
And its for all of us that these things have been made – for rich and poor, beggar or gentleman. Indeed my good people nature is complete, and its up to us to realise that it's the gift of our God.
2 Medieval dance and fanfare after King John
A memory of medieval times, a period when Jersey 's unique position was established:
“Considering how faithfully the beloved men of our isles have ever maintained their loyalty towards the king of England, and how much they have suffered in defence of their islands, and of our rights and honour, we concede for ourselves and for our heirs, that they hold and retain all privileges, liberties, immunities and customs granted by our forbears or of other legal competency, and that they enjoy them freely without molestation by ourselves, our heirs or officers”. Edward III
Inspired by the master of Ceremonies at The Revels, and by Geraint Jennings, I added a humorous Medieval verse for the choir, to sum this up, and also perhaps in memory of all the marvellous Jersey Gilbert and Sullivan productions over many years in the island!
3 The Sea and the Heavens
Our ancestors fought on it, travelled the world on it, harvested from it, and every form of communication with the outside world was at the mercy of it. Can we imagine during the cod trade of centuries past sending our sons to sea, receiving the earnings, but never seeing the boys again. The sea brings me hope; its daily pattern erasing the footprints of our troubled lives and bringing us a clean canvas upon which to dance. This theme, which always reminds me of God's mercy, occurs in the poems I quote as my inspiration by Lynn New and James Caro.
Jersey by Lynn New
Sit now and rest now, watch the sun linger,
See incoming tide, round rocks it does finger.
Rest in the warm sun, at dusk of the day,
Silently hoping, more time you could stay.
Watch diamonds dancing, upon the cool water,
Hark to the shore birds, their cry doesn't falter.
Breathe in the salt air, feel in your being
That you are a part of all you are seeing.
Stand on the shoreline, watch the tide falling;
Hear now the seagull, it's you he is calling.
Follow the cliff path, count the small flowers,
Hold onto minutes and while away hours.
Could there be an island, ever so splendid?
That when your heart's aching, here it is mended.
The sea and the wind join in the refrain….
“Come back to the island; to Jersey again”.
(Printed by kind permission of the author and by Coach house publications Ltd)
The Waves and Crests of White by James Caro
The waves and crests of white,
Show me the power of the sea,
While I sit on my rock the relentless
pounding plays its wonderfully soothing
melody for me,
I gaze at it fixedly,
Two seagulls rise and begin to fly,
What beauty is this to behold by the mortal
human eyes,
I sit here with so much inner peace with my heart
cured of all its pain,
Oh, to fly in the sky of love again.
(Printed by kind permission of the author from (Wednesday, 13 th March 1991, Corbiere Light House, from “The sun, the sand, the sea & me”)
The choir sing:
“The shimmering moonlight stars
Are gently yielding to the morning sun
My mind sees the ocean vast before me declaring
Behold the heavens
Calling you, calling me
Above the sea! ( Gerard Le Feuvre )
Li tens mua, li venz turna
Tona e plut e esclaira;
Li ceils neirci, li airs trobla;
La mer mella, undes leverent.
Wages crurente reverserent.”
( Wace (12 th century) from his “Roman de Brut”)
Trans: A great storm arose; the weather altered, the wind changed direction, there was thunder and lightening and rain. The sky darkened, the air thickened; the sea became tempestuous, waves reared up, clouds rose and fell.
Behold the sea!
4 Loss and Sacrifice of our forbears
As I look over Jersey 's history, I am shaken at the hardship suffered. They died in defence of the island, at sea (victims of accidents or the weather), in ambitious endeavour, or lived lives of grief separated from their children or loved ones through social or economic need. As we listen to the tolling of the Stella's bell, we might think of Mary Rogers who died in the tragedy becoming a national heroine in the UK . Mary was a young widow who took a job as stewardess in order to preserve her family. She suffered appalling see-sickness for 5 years, but persevered, and during the tragedy served all but herself, going down with the ship uttering; “God have me” as her last words. This movement is dedicated to all unsung and sung heroes of our history. Only by remembering them can we achieve real gratitude for the peace and relative blessing that we live in. The movt. ends with a great cry of hope - a setting of some magnificent words by my friend and deeply missed neighbour Aidan Smith – a fine and devoted Jersey man who died earlier this year. I dedicate this musical setting to his memory and for his family.
The choir sing:
“ In the silence of the sea – we remember those who gave their lives.
In the silence we remember lives of hardship loss and sacrifice.
Our peace is built on their foundation.
Our peace is from their sacrifice.
We will not forget them.” ( Gerard Le Feuvre )
“Greater love hath no man than he who lays down his life for his friends”
( John 15 verse 13 – the bible)
Weep not for ancient oaks, their branches point
To virgin land where younger oaks must grow.
So grasp your spade with faith
And in the morning sun
Go out and sow! ( Aidan Smith )
5. Jersey Joy – Song of the people, and for the children of the island
I have written an anthem not to replace any past songs that are important to the island, but to add to them and build upon them. We need a great canon of culture; art, music, theatre and all manner of human expression, to express identity and pride in our wonderful Island . Every attempt should be made by the older generation to encourage the young “to sing a new song” in this way. Please.
Here I have set five songs together as a gift to people of the Island of all generations. A sort of musical symbol of us all standing together with our different memories, experiences, and tastes. The songs are; Ma Normandie, two children's songs (mine), the chorus of Beautiful Jersey, and my anthem. My two contrasting children's songs appear first in the flutes and piccolo, in celebration of the magnificent childhoods that Jersey affords us all year upon year.
The choir sing:
Ma Normandie
and then
Beautiful Jersey , gem of the sea,
Ever my heart turns in longing to thee;
Bright are the mem'ries you waken for me,
Beautiful Jersey, gem of the sea.
6 Thanks giving and hope for the future
La Vie Excerpt from poem by J. J. Le Marquand
Mais l'jour veindra et est bein prês,
Quand dé nouvé l'homme r'trouvtha san Sauveur,
Et sa vie r'prendra eune nouvelle jouaie:
Jouaie d'rendre sèrvice à son Créateur,
Car l'homme vivra seulement pour la paix,
S'mithant dans la bonté, et rendant l'bonheur.
Chu bieau jour, quand l'homme dans san bonheur,
Rendra l'bein pour lé ma et en s'ra heûtheux,
Vèrra, dans ses fréthes et soeurs
Lé bein seulement, et pas d'ma en ieux,
Comme la sèrcl'ye qu'est êclipsée par la belle flieur,
Et la niet par lé solé, bein seux.
Grand Créateur, à Té j'appartenons,
Chu bieaux monde, Tu nos à prêté,
Pour modellé sus tout chein qu'i' y'a d'bouon,
Notr' vie accordant à Ta volanté,
J'sommes tous Tes êfants, sans tchestchion,
Tout chein q'Tu nos d'mande, ch'est d' l'accepter.
But the time is coming and is near w hen again man will find his Saviour
And his life will take on a new joy. Joy and giving service to his creator,
Because man will live only for peace m irroring goodness and rendering happiness.
On that great day, when man in his happiness s hall give good for evil
And will see in his brothers and sisters o nly good, not bad,
As the weed is ecplipsed by the beautiful flower, a nd the night by the sun.
Great creator, to you we belong t his beautiful world, you have lent to us,
To shape for good, i n accordance with your will,
We are all your children, without question, i ts for us to accept all you ask.
I am deeply impacted by JJ Le Marquand's expression of hope. Springing from his own Christian faith it appeals in its vision for the rekindling of the goodness in all of us. It also poses the question: are we good custodians of our land?
After the final statement of the anthem by all the assembled Brass, comes an extended “Amen” (Amen meaning “I entirely agree”!), with bells and many hidden musical symbols of gratitude for Jersey within the orchestral score.
The Anthem within “The Rock”
Ours is an island home
Firm on rock and strong by sea
Loyal and proud in history
Our thankful hearts are raised to God for Jersey .
Our freedom from of old
Granted to our forebears was
Royal intent and Royal decree
Did honour all in Jersey for their loyalty.
The splendour of the sea
Frames our life by night and day
Great white horses riding by
‘mid visions of eternity
Revealed in sky
Through loss and sacrifice
Grieving generations past
Forged their way and ran their race
To give their children greater hope of peace and grace
In sorrow and in joy
Islanders sang as seasons passed
Celebrating feast and fast
And holding to the promise of each passing year
The beauty of our land
Long inspire both eye and mind
Our's the privilege to guard its shore
So help we God that Jersey
Might by grace endure
And to end with Victor Hugo once more
“…what did I find in Jersey ? Something sacred, sublime, unexpected: peace …. I found, I repeat, peace, repose, a pure and tranquillity in the softness of your countryside, in the warm-hearted greeting of your labourers, in these valleys, in these secluded places, in these nights which, above the sea, seem more amply filled with stars, in this ever-moving sea which seems to throb directly with the breath of God. Yes, I give thanks to Jersey . I thank you. Beneath your roofs and In your towns I found human goodness, and in your fields and seas I discovered divine indulgence… There are two things which make a people both great and attractive, and these are liberty and hospitality; hospitality was the glory of ancient nations, liberty is the splendour of modern nations. Jersey wears both these crowns; let her guard them…I love Jersey ; I feel this deeply.”