Joan Armatrading Premieres Classical Work ‘Homeland’ as Tribute to Birmingham

Joan Armatrading, the celebrated singer-songwriter who arrived in Birmingham from St Kitts at age seven, has created her second classical composition titled ‘Homeland’, described as a heartfelt ‘love letter’ to her adopted city. The 15-minute orchestral piece will receive its world premiere on 7 December at Symphony Hall, performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and its chorus under conductor Michael Seal as part of the ‘Bringing The Light’ concert. The work celebrates Birmingham’s community spirit, resilience, and warmth, blending urban energy with the surrounding countryside’s natural beauty. Armatrading, who taught herself piano and guitar and began composing at 14, achieved global fame in the 1970s and 1980s with hits such as ‘Love and Affection’ and ‘Me Myself I’. Her genre-blending style incorporates jazz, reggae, folk, and rock. ‘Homeland’ follows her first classical outing, ‘Symphony No. 1’, which debuted at London’s Southbank Centre in 2023. The 74-year-old artist, honoured with a CBE in 2020, has earned numerous accolades including the first UK female Grammy nomination in blues, an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996, and the prestigious Ivor Novello Fellowship in 2020 for lifetime achievement. The composition aims to portray Birmingham not merely as a setting but as a vibrant, living entity where industry and nature coexist harmoniously.