The Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra (IOMSO) and the Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra are joining forces on Saturday May 17th to take part in a musical event set to be one of the highlights of Island of Culture 2014.

The event, believed to be the largest solely orchestral concert ever staged in the island and arranged with generous support from the Isle of Man Arts Council and the Villa Marina, will feature two world premieres by Manx composers: JE Quayle’s Fantasy-Overture On Maughold Head and Charles Guard’s new work Song of the Southern Hills, together with The Planets by Gustav Holst and Haydn Wood’s Manx Rhapsody.

The concert will also provide an opportunity to celebrate a cultural link between the two regions; brothers Harry, who became known as ‘Manxland’s King of Music’ and Haydn Wood, violinist and composer, were born in Slaithwaite but later moved to the island.

JE Quayle’s work was discovered in the attic of one of his grandsons in Winchester in 2013.  Charles Guard’s new piece, composed especially for IOMSO and Island of Culture 2014, is based on themes from his many film and documentary scores.

Completing the programme is Arthur Butterworth’s Ragnarok, The Doom of Gods, written expressly for the Manx Youth Orchestra and based on the Norse saga as depicted on the Ragnarok stone in Andreas.

The concert also comes during the year when Maurice Powell celebrates a decade as IOMSO’s conductor. He said: ‘I’m delighted that the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra and the Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra are joining forces for this orchestral concert. This event is significant for a number of reasons; it celebrates the link between the Isle of Man and Slaithwaite in Yorkshire via Haydn Wood’s Manx Rhapsody; acknowledges our Norse heritage in Arthur Butterworth’s stirring evocation, Ragnarok; and includes two world premieres by Manx-born composers.
 
‘Furthermore, combining the forces of two orchestras means that a masterpiece of English music, Holst’s suite The Planets, will be performed here, probably for the first time, in its entirety.
 
‘This unique event also celebrates the valuable contribution made to the Island’s musical culture by its resident orchestras for nearly 100 years, since the Douglas Amateur Orchestral Society, under JE Quayle himself, gave its inaugural concert in the Villa Marina in November 1918.’

Event director Michael Lees said: ‘Bringing these two accomplished orchestras together for this unique concert will be a truly memorable occasion and enrich our programme for Island of Culture 2014. Not only does this event promise an evening of wonderful music but it also supports our commitment to welcome artists from beyond these shores to share in our celebrations.’

For bookings visit www.villagaiety.com.