Chineke! Orchestra performs the online world premiere of Song of the Prophets: a Requiem for the Climate from London’s iconic St Paul’s Cathedral.

This new orchestral work on the theme of climate change will see its debut performance in the run-up to the G7, as international development agency Christian Aid calls for more action on climate justice. 

The 12-minute piece is split into four movements – Creation, Ruin, Recovery and Redemption – each composed by a different Black British composer: Shirley Thompson OBE, Roderick Williams OBE, Daniel Kidane and Ayanna Witter-Johnson. The performance will include interludes from three musicians playing instruments from countries that are among those suffering most in the climate crisis. 

Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno will play the nyatiti – an instrument played in Kenya, Renu Hossain will play instruments native to Bangladesh, and Richard Olatunde Baker will play the talking drum, native to west African countries including Nigeria.

The music is inspired by Song of the Prophets: a global theology of climate change, a paper which was released by Christian Aid in 2014 and which was re-published in May 2020. 

Event details:

Song of the Prophets: A Requiem for the Climate

Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Join us online at 7pm