To celebrate Pentecost, Emma joined the brass quintet of the Dutch Grenadiers and Rifles Guard Regiment to sing during Mass in “Little Lourdes” – a Dutch town dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. She sang the plainsong Missa de Angelis, the Ave Maria attributed to Caccini, and hymns and a psalm during the Mass of the Dutch Military Lourdes Pilgrimage Foundation. Here is a video of the ‘Ave Maria’:
Alex Patterson, Director of Music at Salford Roman Catholic Cathedral, has developed a wonderful Podcast through lockdown, interviewing musicians about the music they create and the music they enjoy. Emma took part in the podcast earlier this month discussing her approach to composition and the music which has shaped and echoed her life.
Alex was formerly the Director of Music at St. Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham, where Emma sang as a child. They met when Emma was invited to sing for the Christmas Carol Service of BBC Radio Nottingham in 2018.
You can listen to Emma and to Alex’s other guests by clicking this link.
Singing at the Haagsche Schouw monument
Emma was honoured to sing for Dutch Remembrance Day, 4th May, in her home town of Leiden. She sang the Dutch national anthem, “Het Wilhemus” at the Haagsche Schouw and the Liberty Statue, and “Abide with Me” to end the day’s ceremonies. It was a poignant day since it was the first year since the Second World War that no Second World War veteran was present.
The ceremony at the Liberty statue in Leiden.