The Sound of Our Home was commissioned by the Kodaly Music Educators Institute of Australia in 2014 for the National Conference held at the Ascham School, Sydney.
When Paul was asked to compose a piece for the finale of the event, he was dedicated to achieving a work that would feel like it came from all the delegates, made of mostly of music educators from around the world. Rather than write a piece just for them to sing, Paul felt that he could write the piece inspired by their passions for music and music education. His wife Bonnie became the main composer of the piece.
“The wonderful educators and musicians who will be singing my piece together as a community are the very reason I am here today still writing choral music and living my dream. Among the delegates are dozens of people who have commissioned me, hired me as artist in residence, performed my works in tours around the world, sung my music at competitions and events, published my music, supported my music, gave me a reason to keep writing and inspired me to be a better musician. Writing for you all feels like writing for an extended family. You are all part of my journey.
“With this in mind, and after reading all your insights into music education, my wife Bonnie and I felt that this piece should be about home – the home that music provides not only us, but our students, our children, our community and our world. Bonnie came up with the initial melody and lyric for this piece and we worked together as the piece grew. I thank her for her gift. Music is at the very core of humanity. It defines us, it makes us and it belongs to us all. I have made my life out of it, and my home is a house of music.” PAUL JARMAN 2014
This piece is very suited to your concert finale and is a powerful and moving way to honour your passion and your singers passions for music. The SAB version is perfectly suited to a large event wth adult and treble choir as the treble part is a stand alone feature.
This sample below is from the world premiere at Sydney Grammar of the SAB/Treble version and the YOUTUBE clip is the same performance.