From: Show of Hands
[webmaster=showofhands.co.uk_at_mail190_dot_atl81_dot_rsgsv_dot_net] on behalf of Show of
Hands [webmaster_at_showofhands_dot_co_dot_uk]
Sent: 28 April 2014 18:31
Subject: New double album from Show of Hands
Show
of Hands
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The
First World War was a conflict that led to the deaths of seventeen million
soldiers and civilians, and transformed Britain and much of the world. But
the brutal carnage and the horrors of life in the trenches inspired an
extraordinary artistic movement, the War Poetry written by those who
fought, and in some cases died.
The first CD features twenty two of these
classic poems set to songs and tunes that were well known at the time and played
on instruments - Guitar, Concertina, Octave-mandolin, Harmonica, Fiddle,
Melodeon, Piano and Double bass that were familiar to those that fought. The
poems are read by two of our best-loved actors - Jim Carter (Downton Abbey,
The Madness of King George) and his wife, Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter, Vera
Drake.) Steve has known them both since his London days and many of you
will recall that it is Jim's voice that recites ?The Wrecker's Prayer' at the
start of the ?Tall Ships' saga!
The second album is very different and is
dominated by songs not poetry, with Show of Hands presenting distinctive
versions of First World War favourites as well as newer material and songs
written especially for the project. There are new songs from Steve, including
?Requiem' and his setting of Housman's ?The Lads In Their Hundreds'. Also
included are ?The Padre' and ?Love Will Make The World Go Round' by Chris
Hoban, who penned ?Katrina'. Jackie Oates and Jim Causley appear on a medley
of ?Goodbye-ee' and ?If You Were The Only Girl In The World' whilst ?The
Sunshine Of Your Smile' features Miranda and Rex Preston. There is also a
wonderful new arrangement of Steve's ?The Keeper' (?The Gamekeeper'), which
overlaps with the traditional songs ?The Keeper' & ?The Water is Wide'
and features Phil Henry and Hannah Martin.
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