2022 Galleywood Festival - 27th May - 5th June 2022

The premiere performance of Eric Withams' - A Chronicle of Our Village in Song, providing the audience with insight into Galleywood through local characters and events. Although the composer, Eric Withams, has lived in Great Baddow all his life, Galleywood featured largely in his boyhood as his maternal grandparents lived in Well Lane, Galleywood.   Eric wrote a Chelmsford cantata for children in 2002, and then, in 2011 fulfilled a longstanding ambition to compose a larger scale work about Great Baddow. Interest from Wendy Cummin of the Galleywood Heritage Centre prompted him to offer to write a cantata for Galleywood. The title “Gavelwode” comes from one of the early names for the village. Collaboration between Chris Wright, Melva Whybro and Eric over a 12 month period produced the work you hear this evening.

Although much research went into the words, it was borne in mind that mere accounts of local history could prove to be rather dry in a musical production.   So every effort was made to be accurate, but it was intended that the work should entertain audience and performers.   As in the composer’s previous works, a variety of musical styles and moods is employed. We hope that you will enjoy the work, and gain some historical insight into Galleywood through local characters and events.

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