Composer, recording artist and conductor Mike Batt is composing a symphony based on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This weekend he launched a campaign to raise the funds to record the piece with a top London Symphony orchestra. The fundraising is now open on the well-known online funding platform Kickstarter, with a target of £38,000, and will close on 28th July. Click Kickstarter – Mike Batt: A Symphony for more details.

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Batt said “A symphony often reflects the feelings and events observed by the composer, and mine is no different. I am writing about what I see every day on the news and all over social media; what deeply concerns me and so many others. Not just Ukraine, but all that is happening in the USA and the Middle East. But specifically, my focus is Ukraine. It is not so much a protest (although it may as well be) but a reflection of thoughts stimulated by the suffering and violence of the war. I am scoring the piece for a traditional symphonic line-up, and each of four movements will reflect a stage of it, ranging from normal life before the invasion, the nightmare of war, a slow movement of romance and mourning, and a finale projecting a spirit of hope for the future.

“I chose Kickstarter in order to allow the piece to be recorded independently – as it is not an obviously commercial venture that I could easily take to a record company. I’m hoping people who know my work will pre-order the album as a gesture of support – as a leap of faith, not having heard it – so that it is effectively being commissioned by its audience while it is being made.

In this age of streaming, an uncommercial, essentially classical venture like this would not get made without prior audience support. Rather than expect it magically to take flight on social media, I am hoping to find my audience through this platform.”

Available rewards for backers of the project include a CD, download or vinyl recording of the symphony, the printed score signed by Batt, an ‘Ask Me Anything’ Zoom call or lunch with Batt, the chance to attend a recording session, or an executive producer credit.