O Children of Earth: A Remarkable Collaboration with Bristol Cathedral

We are delighted to celebrate the success of O Children of Earth, a remarkable initiative led by composer Richard Barnard that brought together 140 children from Horfield Primary School to create and perform a song cycle in response to Luke Jerram’s Gaia installation at Bristol Cathedral.

Under Richard’s guidance, sixty Year 3 students crafted original lyrics and melodies celebrating the Earth’s beauty, fragility, and the importance of environmental stewardship. These pieces were seamlessly integrated with Richard’s own composition, commissioned by The Earthsong Foundation, and culminated in a powerful tutti finale. Performed beneath the awe-inspiring Gaia artwork and accompanied by the cathedral organ, the finale united Horfield School children and the Bristol Cathedral choir, evoking a profound sense of shared responsibility for our planet. 

The success of this pilot project serves to inspire future collaborations between composers, schools, art installations, and potentially other unique venues. And with the finale score published by White Light Publishing, the project’s message is set to resonate and inspire long after this performance.