NEWS & EVENTS
Martyrdom of Latimer premiere hailed great success
Saturday October 3rd 2009
Ely Cathedral
The evening was marked with a first performance of a work especially written for the occasion: The Martyrdom of Latimer by Adam Pounds who was present in the audience. The warmth and enthusiasm the audience showed towards this piece was certainly warranted.

Adam Pounds & Steve Bingham
This profound work explored the excitement and darkness of death and spiritual revival. After the opening appealing melody was taken up in turn by the different sections of the orchestra, the toll of impending doom heralded the contrasting development of dramatic conflict, building up to an exciting climax with trumpets off-stage broadening the experience until the work's final thunderous drum call brought this fine composition to a memorable close.
Dr. R J Westwell PhD, MA TESOL, MA Ed, B Mus, BA Hons
What the audience said...
“I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat to yesterday's concert which included your wonderful new piece, "The Martyrdom of Latimer". I thought it was really tremendous — both powerful and evocative, especially the ending and the trumpets in the gallery. So, as it's something I'd certainly like to hear again, I was wondering if there were plans to release a recording on CD?”
Andrew Cohen
“I had the profound pleasure of hearing this stunning composition on Saturday evening. I would dearly like to listen to it again (and again...). Have any plans been made to record it?”
Yvonne Vallis
Forthcoming conducting engagements
Sunday 6th December 2009
8.00pm, Stapleford Sinfonia and Singers (Parish Church, Stapleford)
Bach: Choruses from Christmas Oratorio
Monteverdi: Beatus Vir
Plus others by Brahms, Warlock etc.
Sunday 13th December
7.30pm, Orchestra and Choir of Great St. Mary's (University Church, Cambridge)
Christmas Concert
Pounds: 'A Northern Picture'
Bach: Excerpts from the Christmas Oratorio
Elgar: 'Wand of Youth' suite no.2
Carols for all plus other Christmas music
Saturday 20th March 2010
Stapleford Singers, Academy of Great St. Mary's (Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Cambridge)
Brahms: 'Tragic Overture'
Pounds: 'The Martyrdom of Latimer'
Brahms: 'A German Requiem'
Saturday 19th June 2010
Stapleford Sinfonia and Singers (Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Cambridge)
Haydn: The Creation
Martyrdom of Latimer complete
May 2009
I have just completed the score to The Martyrdom of Latimer for orchestra. It has been commissioned by the Ely Sinfonia and will be performed in Ely Cathedral on Saturday October 3rd 2009 together with Beethoven's fifth symphony and Mozart's Requiem. The orchestra will be conducted by Steve Bingham.
The Martyrdom of Latimer explores the final days of Latimer's life and his death at the stake. I have employed modal themes and liturgical ideas combined with strong rhythmic statements. The orchestra, which is fairly large, also employs four trumpet parts. Two of the players are to be located in the gallery. The piece was started on March 23rd and took shape very quickly, being completed on the 15th May.
Adam Pounds
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