Music from the pen of Philip Sparke has helped to provide much needed emergency relief to the victims of the recent Japanese tsunami disaster.

Write a piece

Philip was contacted soon after the extent of the disaster became apparent to see if he was able to write a piece of music to help with fund raising.

With time of the essence Philip arranged a short piece called ‘Cantilena’ which he had written for wind band for the Grenland Brass Festival in Norway, renaming it with the organiser’s permission as ‘The Sun Will Rise Again’.

I was thrilled to learn last week that Anglo Music and De Haske have already been able to send more than $46,000 to Japan to help with the recoveryPhilip Sparke

Staggering response

The response was staggering, as Philip told 4BR: "With encouraging support from my printer and distributor, De Haske, we had the piece in print less than 3 weeks after the disaster occurred with the agreement to send all the net profits to the Japanese Red Cross Tsunami Disaster Fund."

He added: "I was delighted that wind bands, especially in this country and Japan, quickly jumped on board by buying a set and performing it, and was thrilled to learn last week that Anglo Music and De Haske have already been able to send more than $46,000 to Japan to help with the recovery."

Ring tone

Philip also revealed that the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra have also recorded the piece as a mobile phone download in Japan, which is also raising additional significant amounts of money.