Very happy to hear from Chiara Beebe who sent me a live recording made in Guernsey last August of the Guernsey Sinfonietta’s premiere of her piece ‘Return to Sarnia’. The words of which were based on a poem I wrote about the island in my early twenties – more or less the same age Chiara was when she wrote this.
This recording was made at the premiere, which was conducted by Sebastian Grand and sung by Casey-Joe Rumens. Sarnia is one of the old names for Guernsey, and Chiara’s piece culminates in a yearning phrase from Sarnia Cherie, which is Guernsey’s unofficial island anthem.
What do you think?
And PS: here’s the original poem, or how it looked when it was being driven around the island in a bus a few years ago. It also appeared in the book written with my pal Richard Fleming called A Guernsey Double.
With Chiara in Guernsey last August.
Great to see hear how these words have migrated, on buses and everything, into song. The final product sounds very grand.
Thank you! It amazes me how a few lines I wrote in a notebook when I was 22 have gradually made its way into the world. Some seedlings are stronger than you think.
I was very lucky Chiara chose my poem to use. She is going to be a star.