Du Fu (712-770) was born into a noble family which had fallen into relative poverty. His great ambition to serve his country was frustrated by repeated failure in the civil service examinations. He finally attained a minor administrative post but almost immediately the country was plunged into civil war. The Emperor (“The Dragon”, “Son of Heaven”) was forced to flee the capital (Chang’an) and abdicate. Du Fu managed to get his family to safety but was himself captured by the rebels. He later escaped and joined the court in exile. The war dragged on for years and ruined the country—millions were killed or displaced.

Du Fu’s precarious itinerant existence throughout the turmoil of these years provided the inspiration for some of his finest poetry. He wrote about what he saw and heard around him—the lives of his family, friends, neighbours and strangers—with great honesty and deep compassion. He is now regarded as one of China’s finest poets, but received no recognition in his own lifetime.

In 765 Du Fu began a long journey down the Yangtze (the “Great River”) towards his birthplace, which had recently been recaptured by Government forces. Progress was slow and he died before reaching his final destination.

Songs in time of war is the first in a series of four major works commissioned jointly by the Salisbury, Chelsea and Lichfield Festivals, 2006-2009. The first performances were given by Mark Padmore (tenor), Philippe Honoré (violin), Alison Nicholls (harp) and Morgan Szymanski (guitar) at Wilton Church, 8 June 2006; St Luke’s Church, Chelsea, 19 June 2006; and the Lady Chapel, Lichfield Cathedral, 6 July, 2006.

from notes by Alec Roth © 2008