Salisbury-born composer, Janet Wheeler has been commissioned by Southampton Philharmonic Choir, the city’s longest-established choir, to write a new piece of choral music, using a bequest from long-standing choir member, Joan Wood.

The result is I Sing, and Ever Shall, which will be performed at O2 Guildhall, Southampton tomorrow night in front of the composer, alongside Mozart’s Requiem.

Written for baritone soloist, mixed chorus and orchestra, I Sing, and Ever Shall, is a joyful celebration of singing. Each of the six movements sets a text by a different writer. Words by Emily Dickinson, Rabindranath Tagore, Sara Teasdale and Abraham Cowley all examine the special powers and attributes of singing.

In amongst them comes an energetic dance movement sung entirely to nonsense syllables inspired by Scottish mouth music and vocal exercises.

The finale sets a poem by Robert Herrick is an extended, lively movement, generating an atmosphere of excitement and relish as Herrick lists the varied subjects of many of his poems. The music builds to a climactic conclusion on the words of the title I Sing and Ever Shall, a confident assertion for any choir to embrace.

This exciting new work is accompanied by the more traditional, but magnificent Mozart Requiem. Commissioned in 1791 and completed by others after his death, it still includes enough of Mozart’s genius to be considered a masterpiece, and Serenade No. 6 (Serenata Notturna) K.236.

Joan Wood, who had been in the ‘Phil’ since the 1940s, will be familiar to readers for the classical music reviews written with husband, Eric.

Tickets from 02guildhallsouthampton.co.uk or 023 8063 2601.