New Commission Announcement - 'Their Hearts Failed Not' - Karl D.A. Whelan

I am really excited to announce a brand new commission from the pen of Karl D.A.Whelan entitled ‘Their Hearts Failed Not’ which has been written in commemoration of the men who served with The 1st Battalion, The Kings Liverpool Regiment in which my Great Great Uncle, Fred Bates served under the alias of Frank Taylor.

This exciting new work explores the events of Wednesday 11th November 1914, where four hundred men of The 1st Battalion, The Kings Liverpool Regiment defended Polygon Wood from a determined assault by The Prussian Guards. During the course of the battle, the battalion war diary recorded that “the battalion was now supported on the right by the Prussian Guard” which was due to a successful  attack conducted by The Prussian Guards which penetrated the thinly held British front line close to Black Watch Corner. The men of The 1st Battalion, The Kings Liverpool Regiment lost twenty nine men killed in action and wounded in action during the course of the day. This new work for Euphonium and Brass Band depicts the events of that day.

It has been a total privilege to work alongside Karl D.A.Whelan who has really bought a fresh compositional perspective to this project. I am really looking forward to sharing some more information in regards to this very special project in the near future.