UK – WORLDWIDE – The Baltic Exchange, whose members make up a large proportion of bulk dry cargo vessel owners and operators and various other diverse shipping and freight interests, have come up with a novel way of raising some cash for three particularly worthy causes, all directly linked to the maritime environment. The London headquartered Exchange is offering for sale online a collection of choral music called ‘Music for Seafarers’ with all funds raised going towards seafaring charities Mission to Seafarers and the Sailors Society as well as RNLI Salcombe where the Baltic has supported lifeboats for over 100 years.
The CD of the music can be ordered for £9.99 or is available as a digital download for only £6.99 HERE where one can also opt to listen to a sample of what’s on offer. Recorded in Portsmouth Cathedral and performed by Portsmouth Cathedral Choir and the Convivium Singers, the collection includes anthems, hymns, songs and folk songs on the theme of the sea.
The highlight of the collection is the Anthem for Seafarers, a brand new composition based on the most famous of seafaring hymns ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’. The hymn, originally written in 1860 by William Whiting, is associated with both the British and American navies as well coastguards and marines. The Anthem for Seafarers is an updated version of this hymn composed by Malcolm Archer, a leading light in the music world and the former director of music at St Paul’s Cathedral. First performed in 2010 in Vancouver to commemorate the International Maritime Organization’s ‘Year of the Seafarer, the piece forms the centre piece of the collection. Baltic Exchange chief executive Jeremy Penn said:
“This is a really wonderful project and one which I hope will raise the profile of merchant seafarers around the world. As shipbrokers and charterers, Baltic Exchange members are at the business end of the shipping industry and we all rely on the dedication of the 1.3 million men and women who sail the world’s ships to keep global trade moving.”
Composer Malcolm Archer, who has over two hundred published musical works to his name, acted as an artistic director on the project and was Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral from 2004 until taking up his current post as Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College. He commented:
“For many years I had wanted to compose an anthem version of the text ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’ when Michael Drayton, the chairman of the Baltic Exchange, approached me with just such a commission for dedication to the Exchange and to mark his retirement as Chairman. It also seemed appropriate that I should set these words to music since the author of them, William Whiting (1825-1878), was Master of the Quiristers at Winchester College, a position which I now hold as their Choirmaster.
“With that strong link the anthem is assured of performances within the College and it is my sincere hope that it will not only be performed regularly for the Baltic Exchange but become a popular choice amongst the many seafaring communities around the world.”
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