A Winchester composer has earned the chance to write Hampshire's musical celebration for the millennium.

Martin Read beat four others to the appointment and will compose a collection of pieces for the Hampshire Music 2000 commission and at future events.

The commission has been made possible by a grant of £25,000 awarded to Hampshire County Council by the Millennium Festival Fund.

Mr Read, who lives in Gladstone Road, Winchester, plans to compose music where different instruments will evoke different periods in Hampshire's history.

Mr Read, 40, who is head of music at Alton College said: "Each movement of the Hampshire Music 2000 commission will relate to one aspect of the county's history, bringing it back to life with all the original colour and vigour."

Wind instruments will be used to feature the death of King Rufus in the New Forest in 1100, and a youth choir will be used to symbolise the bloody English Civil War battle which took place at Alton in 1643.

Mechanical sound will be used to bring back memories of the environmental battles at Twyford Down, Winchester, when the controversial motorway cutting was constructed.

More than 12 musical groups from Hampshire, including Eastleigh, Romsey and Winchester Strings and Hampshire County Youth Choir will be involved.

The choirs will be used for the musical piece evoking the sinking of Henry VIII's warship, the Mary Rose, off Portsmouth.

Mr Read said: "The two things I really enjoy are working with young people and composing, so this task is brilliant."

Richard Howlett, head of Hampshire Music Service, said: "Martin showed overwhelming enthusiasm and had a wonderful rapport with the young people.

"We felt as a local composer he fulfilled our wish for someone who would understand the county and the needs of the community."

The music will be performed at the Hampshire Music 2000 event at the Anvil, Basingstoke, in July 2000.

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