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Mayflower 400: Voyages of the Heart by Tunde Jegede

The virtual performance of Mayflower 400: Voyages of the Heart by Tunde Jegede premieres on Friday 23 April - and tickets are still available.

This powerful new work by renowned composer, producer, cellist and kora virtuoso Tunde Jegede has been commissioned by Turner Sims Southampton and Southampton City Council as part of the Mayflower 400 programme.

The new ensemble music project is inspired by the stories of Southampton's migrant and refugee communities, collected through the City Archive and a new National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported oral history project.

Tunde Jegede describes the piece as, "about heritage, journeys, migration and the transitory sense of home and identities… [asking] pivotal questions of our perception of culture, memory, race and how we see the world."

Supported by funding from Arts Council England, Southampton City Council and the University of Southampton, the piece involves 25 musicians from a range of backgrounds and disciplines including Gospel singers, an operatic choir, a Gaelic singer, and an Indian classical music vocalist.

Instruments include a string quartet, Irish folk violin and flute, guitar, Sitar, Oud, Tabla, drums and bass.

The piece beautifully blends these varied styles together to create a multi-layered musical journey which is reflective of Southampton’s multicultural population.

It will be recorded at Southampton's leading concert hall, Turner Sims, and will be premiered as an online performance, on Friday 23 April.

Tickets are available, directly from Turner Sims, here at a variety of pay-what-you-can price points.

After the premiere event, an online programme will run for two local community choirs and local choirs and schools will have free access to over 20 songs from the piece.

Tunde Jegede has been developing resources especially for community use throughout this project to inspire local musicians to explore multiple musical genres. A chance to be a part of this poignant work and enjoy a legacy project from Mayflower 400 Southampton.

Pictures by Rachel Adams