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Join Choir of the Earth as we learn, sing and record the unique and poignant Ozymandias by John Pickard.
What we will learn
Composed in 1983, John Pickard’s Ozymandias sets Percy Bysshe Shelley’s sonnet for unaccompanied choir, divided into ten voice parts. Lasting approximately five minutes, it was first performed on 26 November 1983 by the Bangor University College Singers, conducted by Geraint Lewis.
Ozymandias is the Greek name for Ramesses II, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh. Shelley’s poem imagines the shattered remains of a statue of this ruler, whose proud inscription stands in stark contrast to the empty desert surrounding it.
At the heart of the poem is a warning about pride and power. Ozymandias’s commanding words survive, but the greatness he claims is nowhere to be seen. His ruined monument exposes the arrogance of rulers who believe their authority will last forever - a message that remains strikingly relevant today. For singers and listeners alike, the poem offers a powerful invitation to reflect on ambition, the passage of time and the limits of human control.
About the composer
John Pickard (1963 -)
© johnpickard.co.uk
John Pickard is a British composer whose music spans orchestral, chamber, choral and brass band repertoire.
Over a career of more than forty years, he has developed a musical language noted for its dramatic energy, expressive range and carefully shaped large-scale structures. His works include symphonies, string quartets and the orchestral piece The Flight of Icarus, which has received performances in Britain and internationally.
His substantial contribution to choral music includes Agamemnon’s Tomb, a large-scale oratorio commissioned by the Huddersfield Choral Society and first performed in 2008. He also has a close association with the brass band world, having served as Composer in Residence with the Cory Band and written Eden for the finals of the 2005 National Brass Band Championship.
Our teaching and resources
The course will be directed by Choir of the Earth Musical Director Ben England, who teaches the music note by note and voice part by voice part through a programme of online rehearsals. Each week begins with a full choir rehearsal, followed by separate sessions focusing on individual voice parts. Rehearsals are usually around an hour long and, if you cannot attend live, every session is recorded, so you can catch up when it suits you best.
You will also have access to high-quality rehearsal tracks for each voice part. These are the same tracks used during our rehearsals, so as Ben teaches the music you can hear exactly what you need to replicate - not only the notes and rhythms, but also the phrasing, dynamics, pronunciation and other musical details that bring the piece to life.
You can attend as many rehearsals as you like, learn more than one voice part if you wish, and take the course at your own pace. There is no requirement to record: some singers simply enjoy the teaching, while others submit their voice from home to become part of our final performance.
As this work is under copyright, you will need to purchase a score separately for a small extra cost, which will be yours to keep. We will provide information about how to order this.
Join us!
Everyone is welcome to join Choir of the Earth. There are no auditions - just sign up as a member and you’re already in!
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Disclaimer: While we make every effort to ensure that courses proceed on the dates and with the content advertised, unforeseen circumstances may require changes on occasion. We endeavour to minimise such alterations, but we reserve the right to make adjustments if necessary.