Commonwealth marks 60th anniversary with colour

“The Commonwealth inspires the warmth and trust that comes from a sense of deep, inexpressible, belonging; of a Commonwealth ‘way of doing things’; above all, of a very special community”, said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.

He was speaking at a flag-raising ceremony held at Marlborough House on 27 April 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth.

When the London Declaration was signed, King George VI praised the eight founding nations for their ‘adaptability’, ‘wisdom’, ‘toleration’. “The King said the new arrangement would ‘redound to the greater happiness of millions’ – we believe it has,” said the Secretary-General.

“It was the birth of the first real international community – and of a new internationalism. The world of 2009 needs another new internationalism – a new community of values – based on the fact that all are equal – big and small, rich and poor,” he added.

A CD titled Music For The Commonwealth by British composer Paul Carroll was also launched at the event. The CD comprises three special compositions for the Commonwealth’s diamond jubilee celebrations. They are Cantata For The Commonwealth, Harmonic Spaces and Rights. The CD was recorded with members of the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices choir at the Abbey Road Studios in January this year.

Cantata For The Commonwealth, which is the main work on the CD, is conducted by David Rowland and features the South African soloist Steven Leas and the choir London Voices. This five-movement musical composition is for orchestra, chorus and solo tenor voice.

Harmonic Spaces is a song composed for the people of the Commonwealth, while Rights was composed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2008. Harmonic Spaces was performed Steven Leas at the flag-raising ceremony this morning.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will go towards helping the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers and young people affected by conflict. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Youth Affairs Division is working closely with the Centre.

Dr Fatiha Serour, Director of the Youth Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, said: “This initiative sends another clear signal to the young people of Northern Uganda that they are in the hearts and minds of the people of the Commonwealth, and that the Commonwealth Secretariat is committed to peace-building and youth development. More support is needed for the Northern Uganda Youth Development project, but we are confident that the Music for the Commonwealth initiative will inspire others to use their talents and resources to give hope to children and young people who have experienced the worst forms of conflict.”

“The efforts of the Commonwealth – to help rebuild the lives of the young people of northern Uganda through vocational training – are encouraging,” said Mr Carroll.

“These efforts will go a long way in helping these young people whose lives had been torn apart by the strife that plagued the country in the recent past, to reintegrate them with their families and communities. I am pleased to support this cause to bring harmony back into the lives of those who have faced troubled times.

“The Music For The Commonwealth celebrates unity, diversity, understanding and peace. I dedicate this CD to the people of the Commonwealth – to give pleasure, to give hope and to inspire,” Mr Carroll added.

The Cantata For The Commonwealth will be performed for HM Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of the Commonwealth, at a world premiere on 28 April at Buckingham Palace. The performance will be given by Steven Leas and the ensemble of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by David Rowland.