Requiem at Bootham

Bootham School’s director of music has written a requiem mass

Bootham School’s director of music has written a requiem mass to commemorate the outbreak of the first world war.

Deeds of Angels, by Paul Feehan, was premiered on Sunday 14 September at the school theatre. It was accompanied by the Bootham Sinfonia. Participants in the event came from all over Yorkshire.

The requiem was in memory of Bootham School ‘old boys’ who had both served in the war and refused to do so, with a focus on one young soldier in particular.

‘Just recently we came upon a portrait of one of our old scholars who was killed at the battle of Ypres in 1917. Eric Busvine Butler was just twenty years old when he died – his young face looking out from this formal military portrait gives a deeply moving image,’ Paul explained.

An extract from Eric’s battery officer’s letter to the young man’s parents – preserved in Bootham School’s archives – describes his behaviour as ‘simply splendid’ and his death as that of ‘a very gallant man’.

The requiem was well received by the 400-strong audience. There are no definite plans for a repeat performance, Paul told the Friend, adding that there had been many requests for another airing of Deeds of Angels.

‘I’ve had so much positive feedback, verbally, via text, email, letters and cards. More feedback than ever before,’ he said.

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