A new work inspired by the 70th anniversary of the Second World War D-Day landings will be premiered in Wales next month by the Abergavenny Borough Band.

Lest We Forget

Entitled, ‘’Lest We Forget’, it has been written by composer Dave Collins (above), and features the band with accompanying offstage buglers and spoken text by writer Lewis Wilkinson.

As part of the long term building of reconciliations and friendship between the twinned towns of Abergavenny and of Oestringen in Germany, the performance itself will be directed by guest conductor Harald Hepner, Director of the Stadtorchester and Musikschule in Ravensburg.

Moving

"Lewis and I are very excited for this work to be premiered by Abergavenny Band as part of this incredibly moving concert," Dave Collins told 4BR.

"The work reflects our admiration of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting this country, but also acknowledges the violence, horror and destruction caused by war."

The work reflects our admiration of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting this country, but also acknowledges the violence, horror and destruction caused by warDave Collins

Close connection

Abergavenny’s MD, Craig Roberts added: "We've held a close connection with Germany for many years. Abergavenny is twinned with the town of Oestringen and the band itself will be heading to Nürtingen and Baden-Württemberg on tour this summer.

I'll also be working in both Hamburg and Ravensburg, and with the D-Day anniversary and First World War centenary this year, we thought it the perfect occasion to invite Herr Hepner to Wales to conduct this concert and tribute to all fallen servicemen and women."

The concert will also feature other music by Abergavenny, who last year claimed the prestigious Ty Cerdd WS Gwynn Williams Award.