A CHOIR will mark the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War by singing a piece specially written by its director.

Darlington SING (Sing Inspire Nurture Grow) Community Choir commissioned Bridie Jackson to write the work for an Armistice Day concert and is now busy rehearsing May Our Children Be Born Into Peace.

The piece examines how the impact of war can ripple through generations and effect everyday lives and communities even in peace time.

Many of the choir took part in a writing workshop earlier in the year when the importance of wartime letters was stressed. The song title is a line from a letter composed at the workshop.

Verses reflect letters to and from the front and the melody is written in Dorian Mode which Ms Jackson says is relatively unusual in contemporary music.

It is, however, described as “melancholy but hopeful” and, she said: “It seemed to me the perfect fit for this piece that, despite it sombre tone, wishes to bring a message of fragile hope.”

The concert, which will include pieces in a range of styles and relative to the theme of war and peace, is at Bondgate Methodist Church, Darlington, on Remembrance Sunday, November 11, at 7pm.

There will be a display of First World War items and refreshments will be served afterwards. Admission is free but a collection will be made for Médécins sans Frontières.

Bridie Jackson is a North-East-based performer, composer and teacher, well-known in the region and beyond.

Speaking about she approached the commission she said: "The first stage was a creative session with the choir to get a sense of what the group felt was important to be honoured within the piece.

"A lot of the singers were passionate about the female perspective, feeling that the part women played remains largely unacknowledged, and also exploring the contradiction of the liberty women were afforded in war time who were suddenly in positions of relative power and significance.

"The other powerful perspective that emerged was the tradition of not talking about the trauma of war and carrying this notion through the generations."

Ms Jackson wrote the the piece as if a series of letters. During her research, she came across some extremely moving wartime correspondence.

"I also learnt that women and children were given governmental guidelines surrounding letter writing, with an expectation that such communication should be largely cheerful and optimistic, so as to not add to the woes of the soldiers at the front," she said.

The song has three letters or stories all intertwined. The first is from a wife to her husband on the front, trying to remain cheerful while giving her husband updates on everyday life.

The soldier responds with fears that he’s lost much of himself to the traumas of war. The last verse is a modern day relative taking a moment of silence to reflect on his life.

The title expresses the universal hope for children to be born into peace.

Darlington SING Community Choir meets in Bondgate Church on Wednesday evenings. It has more than 60 members and is open to anyone aged 18 and older who enjoys singing – there are no auditions. For information email darlingtonsing.co.uk.