BrookWright Music and 4BR is supporting a new musical initiative by composer Phil Lawrence to support the people of Ukraine.
Entitled, 'Brass Bands for Ukraine' it hopes to help raise funds for the Ukraine Crisis Fund set up by the UNICEF Save the Children charity.
Phil told 4BR: "With images of families fleeing the conflict filling out television screens each evening and with people seeing cultural venues and artistic life restricted and even destroyed, we are asking the brass band movement to consider giving both financial and musical support."
5th Symphony
That can be done by donating to download Phil's brass band arrangement of the 4th movement of Shostakovich's '5th Symphony' — a work that has come to symbolise the battle over oppression.
It is hoped that bands will then record their own video performance of the piece to show their support of the efforts of the charity in helping those affected by the conflict.
He added: "The work is a straightforward read, but technically demanding and a tour de force in terms of stamina.
I hope that all bands will endure this effort as the Ukrainian people also endure. Run it through quickly a few times of course, then record your performance and post on YouTube and perhaps in a few weeks we will have thousands of bands supporting the initiative."
Used for good
He continued: "We all value the inclusive power of music making and how it can be used for good. This is an attempt in our own way to offer support to those who are being denied the freedoms that come with music making.
The charity does amazing work to anyone who needs it — and I hope bands will respond as I know they will."
This is an attempt in our own way to offer support to those who are being denied the freedoms that come with music makingComposer, Phil Lawrence
Donate
To donate to this appeal please download this product, which includes the score and parts of the piece for $10.00 US.
Bands wishing to donate more will just need to order additional versions of the same product.
*Please note for every $10.00 donation a 60c administrative fee will be charged.
Find out more
To find out more about the Ukraine Crisis Fund set up by the UNICEF Save the Children charity go to: www.unicef.org/ukraine/en
