What Are Song Stories?
Song Stories are Brenda’s reflections on the world we all live in, the joys and the suffering……… reflections on lives and individual suffering. Songs that make statements, ask questions and leave space for listeners to reflect on how they see and experience ‘our‘ world.
The latest song story is called ‘Why’………….. It’s the commission for Black Lives Matter. A song of truth that asks ‘Why do people hate? Why do people harm others who are different from them?
‘Why’ ©Brenda Rattray
A Song story
Commissioned by BLM
September 2022
My commissioned song, ‘I will Glorify,’ sung by 1,500 voices at The Royal Albert Hall!
Published 11 May 2023 LondonYouthChoirs.com
More than 1,500 voices raised the roof of the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday night as London Youth Choirs and guest singers from 14 London schools united in song for LYC’s 10th birthday concert.
It was a memorable occasion for everyone present, particularly for the hundreds of young people experiencing the vast Royal Albert Hall for the first time.
Titled RISE UP, the concert’s upbeat playlist ensured a constant party atmosphere. A host of guest stars led by compere Aled Jones added further sparkle to the occasion, with feature appearances by soprano Camilla Kerslake, organist Anna Lapwood, and conductor and LYC Honorary Patron Gareth Malone – who led the capacity audience in an impromptu rendition of “Happy Birthday London Youth Choirs.”
Some 1,200 of the young performers on stage were from a total of 14 London primary and junior schools, specially invited and prepared for the concert by LYC’s schools programme, LYC Experience.
The evening’s many musical highlights were crowned by the world premieres of music by composers Brenda Rattray and Amy Bryce, commissioned specially for the occasion and created in partnership with LYC members at special ‘compose with the composer’ workshops.
Say Their Names
I saw the interview below on Twitter:
Heartbreaking. #FreePalestine
https://twitter.com/LizCoomb/status/1393904932177252352?s=20
And wrote the song : Say their names, in response!
About the song………………..
Two children wake up and look out of the window. Although they are the same age, (around 9 years), they have very different, lived experiences.
One sees butterflies when he looks out of his window and the other (because of where he lives) sees and hears bombs! This is a choir song, written with a desire to increase the awareness of listening audiences to the plight of children who suffer daily in conflicts around the world.
https://youtu.be/OHfIkiD1d78 Say their names!
For Always
Released 17th February 2022
Other Song stories written and performed by Brenda can be found on Spotify under Brenda Rattray and include: For Always,‘ Happy Mother’s day’, ‘Thinking’, ‘A Mother’s cry,’and ‘Nobody knows!’
For Always https://youtu.be/YRrqdAcO1mE
New Original Jazz standard song, ‘For Always’ written by Brenda released 18th September 2021
Happy Mother’s day……….
A beautiful Mother’s day song, (Reggae style) in memory of mother’s gone but not forgotten
Happy Mothers Day https://youtu.be/0Y9sGZBE1M4
Thinking
A reflective song - Sometimes in life, there are no words ………..
A Mother’s Cry
A song that speaks of mother’s wrongly incarcerated!
A Mother’s Cry https://youtu.be/moKN5FDCVX0
Nobody Knows
Nobody knows! A song that speaks of the horrors of Rape/ incest ‘ …….a child’s voice.
Nobody Knows https://youtu.be/-bRZpqyj2wk