About 'The Skies Are Weeping'
The Skies are Weeping is a 32 minute cantata, Opus 75, by Philip Munger. It was written in memory of Rachel Corrie, who was killed by a bulldozer whilst trying to save Palestinian homes from demolition by Israel. The cantata is scored for soprano, chamber choir, (8-20 voices), piano and seven percussion players. The second movement of the work is dedicated to Tom Hurndall, the British peace activists, who was killed whilst protecting Palestinian children. It is the only known major classical piece to have been written about these events, or, probably, about the second intifada.
The scheduled world premiere in Alaska,in 2004, was cancelled after the soprano soloist had received death threats, and is now going to take place in the UK. You can read a full account of the events surrounding the cancellation here.
At present performers include the conductor, Peter Crockford, Deborah Fink (soprano), Dominic Saunders (pianist), the choir Coro Cervantes and the London Percussion Ensemble. The venue is the Hackney Empire, East London.
