4BR has been speaking to British Composer Award winner Nigel Clarke after it was announced that he has been commissioned to write an exciting new work for flugel horn and string orchestra.

The Scarlet Flower

Entitled, 'The Scarlet Flower' (Concertino for Flugel Horn & String Orchestra) it is inspired by the story of World War 1 British nurse Edith Cavell’s last hours before being executed by firing squad in October 1915.

Cavell had been arrested and sentenced to death after helping 200 British soldiers escape from occupied Belgian territory, although it was acknowledged by both sides of the conflict that she had also helped hundreds of wounded allied and German soldiers without distinction.

Clarion call

Her famous clarion call: "Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone," are inscribed on her statue in St Martin's Place, near Trafalgar Square in London.

The commission has come from conductor Luc Vertommen and Brass Band Buizingen to be premiered by Buizingen’s virtuoso flugel player Sébastien Rousseau accompanied by the British based Longbow String Orchestra directed by Peter Sheppard Skaerved.

Deeply honoured

Speaking exclusively to 4BR, Nigel said he was both deeply honoured and excited to write the work. "The subject matter and its timing are greatly significant, and I'm always very moved by the story of Edith Cavell’s selfless acts of humanitarianism."

He added: "As you imagine, I’m also very excited about this challenging project. How many brass bands would commission their composer to compose a work for another group and genre?

It’s a wonderful example of an enlightened artistic endeavour and the ability to think progressively towards other genres of music making."

The subject matter and its timing are greatly significant, and I'm always very moved by the story of Edith Cavell’s selfless acts of humanitarianismNigel Clarke

Prose link

Nigel also revealed that the respected political journalist and author Martin Westlake, who wrote the wonderfully imaginative introductory poem to his British Composer Award winning, ‘When Worlds Collide’, will also write the prose to preface the new work.

"It’s great to work with Martin — and I’m sure his words will greatly enhance the meaning and understanding of the composition."