Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Veteran broadcaster, author and composer Mike Read talks to Andy Rawll (for Record Collector Mag) about the choral music project that he scored to bring to life the poignant words of renowned war-poet Rupert Brooke.
Mike provides a fascinating insight into the continuing allure of Brooke, whom many consider as the first pop star from the vibrant Edwardian era. He gained immortality as the first member of the 27 club, having died en route to Gallipoli, shortly after his greatest hit, the elegant, yet idealistic paean to the Great War, 'The Soldier' had become hugely popular.
Mike also brings us up to date on his latest activities, dividing time working with the Blue Plaque Trust and his burgeoning new radio enterprise 'United DJs'.
First released in 2015, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Brooke's death, at the very rock n roll age of 27, the CD 'If I should die...' is now to be re-released by AngelAir Records to align with the centenary of Armistice day on 11/11/18, with all profits to be donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Of the five main tracks, 'Safety' and 'Soldier' are particularly outstanding. The sombre themes are serenely sung with poignant grace. If anything, I slightly prefer the heavenly and ethereal feel of the Eton rendition, whereas the sword-sharp precision of the KC Choir is elegantly divine.
'If I should die - The war sonnets of Rupert Brooke - with music by Mike Read, arranged by Mike Allwood consists of three recordings, headed by Read's five-part suite (Peace, Safety, The Dead 1&2; The Soldier) performed by Kings College Choir and complemented by an alternative a more intimate rendering by the Eton College Chapel Choir. In addition, there are two bonus tracks (The May Day Song and Sunday Morning) from his previous John Betjeman-based work.
#rupertbrooke #warsonnets #mikeread
rupertbrooke.com angelair.co.uk recordcollectormag.com blueplaquesite.com uniteddj.com
@britplaquetrust @angelarirecords@uniteddjsradio @reccollmag
INTERVIEW TIMELINE
00:00 – Intro
00:35 – The allure Rupert Brooke – first pop star to die at 27. Golden era of artists in the Edwardian era for whom time stood still with the start of the Great War. It wasn’t until the 60s that similar unfettered artistic talent was able to emerge and flourish.
03:00 – Was Brooke’s view too idealised or romantic as he died before he made it to the front ? Mike wrote his book to get the pendulum to swing somewhere in the middle from the Eulogistic to the Iconoclastic and back to the centre
05:20 – Setting Brookes verse to choral music, following previous projects, including a more popular-based arrangement for John Betjeman’s work. To put words to music takes craft until you make it as perfect as it can be. If it inspires an emotional reaction, you know it works.
08:03 – How the basic melodies, themes and counterpoints develop into a fully scored work ? The challenges of recording at Eton, under the Heathrow flight path. Meeting Dadie Rylands (legendary literary scholar and theatre director) at Cambridge.
12:44 – Deliberate plan to release a take of two towns (Kings College Cambridge and Eton); how the hitherto lost tapes were found in 2015
12:54 – Comparing the two performances
15:29 – Personal connection with WWI
17:16 – The passing of the Centenary, what does that mean ?
18:53 – Any new creative areas to explore; songwriting credits ?
21:28 – BASCA gold badge award
22:32 – Blue Plaques trust. Taking them into the Commonwealth for the first time
23:48 – Full circle and latest radio station – United DJs (collective of former DJs of Radio One, Capital and Radio Luxembourg
25:28 – Close
25:48 - End
CREDITS:
Many thanks to Mark Fuller and the staff of the Karma Sanctum Hotel in Central London for their hospitality during the production of this interview:
sanctumsoho.com
karmagroup.com/find-destination/karma-sanctum/karma-sanctum-soho
Veteran broadcaster, author and composer Mike Read talks to Andy Rawll (for Record Collector Mag) about the choral music project that he scored to bring to life the poignant words of renowned war-poet Rupert Brooke.
Mike provides a fascinating insight into the continuing allure of Brooke, whom many consider as the first pop star from the vibrant Edwardian era. He gained immortality as the first member of the 27 club, having died en route to Gallipoli, shortly after his greatest hit, the elegant, yet idealistic paean to the Great War, 'The Soldier' had become hugely popular.
Mike also brings us up to date on his latest activities, dividing time working with the Blue Plaque Trust and his burgeoning new radio enterprise 'United DJs'.
First released in 2015, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Brooke's death, at the very rock n roll age of 27, the CD 'If I should die...' is now to be re-released by AngelAir Records to align with the centenary of Armistice day on 11/11/18, with all profits to be donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Of the five main tracks, 'Safety' and 'Soldier' are particularly outstanding. The sombre themes are serenely sung with poignant grace. If anything, I slightly prefer the heavenly and ethereal feel of the Eton rendition, whereas the sword-sharp precision of the KC Choir is elegantly divine.
'If I should die - The war sonnets of Rupert Brooke - with music by Mike Read, arranged by Mike Allwood consists of three recordings, headed by Read's five-part suite (Peace, Safety, The Dead 1&2; The Soldier) performed by Kings College Choir and complemented by an alternative a more intimate rendering by the Eton College Chapel Choir. In addition, there are two bonus tracks (The May Day Song and Sunday Morning) from his previous John Betjeman-based work.
#rupertbrooke #warsonnets #mikeread
rupertbrooke.com angelair.co.uk recordcollectormag.com blueplaquesite.com uniteddj.com
@britplaquetrust @angelarirecords@uniteddjsradio @reccollmag
INTERVIEW TIMELINE
00:00 – Intro
00:35 – The allure Rupert Brooke – first pop star to die at 27. Golden era of artists in the Edwardian era for whom time stood still with the start of the Great War. It wasn’t until the 60s that similar unfettered artistic talent was able to emerge and flourish.
03:00 – Was Brooke’s view too idealised or romantic as he died before he made it to the front ? Mike wrote his book to get the pendulum to swing somewhere in the middle from the Eulogistic to the Iconoclastic and back to the centre
05:20 – Setting Brookes verse to choral music, following previous projects, including a more popular-based arrangement for John Betjeman’s work. To put words to music takes craft until you make it as perfect as it can be. If it inspires an emotional reaction, you know it works.
08:03 – How the basic melodies, themes and counterpoints develop into a fully scored work ? The challenges of recording at Eton, under the Heathrow flight path. Meeting Dadie Rylands (legendary literary scholar and theatre director) at Cambridge.
12:44 – Deliberate plan to release a take of two towns (Kings College Cambridge and Eton); how the hitherto lost tapes were found in 2015
12:54 – Comparing the two performances
15:29 – Personal connection with WWI
17:16 – The passing of the Centenary, what does that mean ?
18:53 – Any new creative areas to explore; songwriting credits ?
21:28 – BASCA gold badge award
22:32 – Blue Plaques trust. Taking them into the Commonwealth for the first time
23:48 – Full circle and latest radio station – United DJs (collective of former DJs of Radio One, Capital and Radio Luxembourg
25:28 – Close
25:48 - End
CREDITS:
Many thanks to Mark Fuller and the staff of the Karma Sanctum Hotel in Central London for their hospitality during the production of this interview:
sanctumsoho.com
karmagroup.com/find-destination/karma-sanctum/karma-sanctum-soho
