Joan Armatrading composes ‘love letter’ to home city Birmingham

Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading has composed a classical piece of work that is a “love letter” to her home city of Birmingham.

The piece, titled Homeland, will have its first performance at the Bringing The Light concert, taking place at the city’s Symphony Hall on 7 December.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO Chorus) will perform the 15-minute score, which will be conducted by Michael Seal.

The prolific singer-songwriter, who was made a CBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours, was just seven when she moved from the Caribbean island St Kitts to Birmingham. “It is a love letter to a place to which I am bonded and one I will always hold with affection and pride,” she said.

The 74-year-old taught herself to play piano and guitar as a child, writing her own songs by the age of 14. She went on to have a string of hits in the 70s and 80s that include Love and Affection and Me Myself I.

“Homeland is a piece that highlights the city of Birmingham and its people, reflecting their strong sense of community, resilience and warmth,” said the artist, who is known for her unique blend of jazz, reggae, folk and rock.

“Through both words and music, the piece weaves together the sounds, energy and rhythms of the city while reaching out into its vast surrounding countryside.

“This is Birmingham, not simply as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing presence – an often-underrated landscape where industry and nature exist side by side in quiet beauty.”

Armatrading’s first foray into classical music came with Symphony No 1, which premiered at London’s Southbank Centre in 2023.

She has also received numerous accolades for her work – she was the first female UK artist to be nominated for a Grammy in the blues category and received an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996.

In 2020, she was honoured with the Ivor Novello Fellowship – the highest honour bestowed by the Ivors Academy – which recognised her significant contributions to music.