James Weeks: Hanging On The Old Barbed Wire
James Weeks ' Hanging On The Old Barbed Wire , for Violin, Cello and Piano. This piece was commissioned by the Lawson Trio - Clara Biss (Violin), Rebecca Knight (Cello) and Annabelle Lawson (Piano)- for their Echoes of World War One project and for Chamber Music 2000, and first performed by students from West London Free School at Kings Place, London, on 6thDecember 2014. It is suited to players of ABRSM Grade V ability. The song that forms the basis of the piece was sung by British soldiers in the trenches during WW1. There are numerous variations of the text; some typical verses are as follows. If you want to find the general I know where he is I know where he is I know where he is If you want to find the general I know where he is He's pinning another medal on his chest. [I saw him, I saw him Pinning another medal on his chest Pinning another medal on his chest.] If you want to find the colonel I know where he is… …He's sitting in comfort stuffing his bloody gut. If you want to find the sergeant I know where he is… …He's drinking all the company rum. If you want to find the private I know where he is… …He's hanging on the old barbed wire.
