For Linda took place at the Charterhouse School in England in July 1999, in a concert at which all nine living composers were present. Performing these choral compositions on the recording are the Joyful Company of Singers, conducted by Peter Broadbent, with flutist Philippa Davies and cellist Robert Cohen. We must do all we can to fight cancer. For this reason, I welcome the opportunity, through my music, to raise funds for research to help eradicate breast and liver cancer. I am touched by the musical tributes from the other composers and I am deeply grateful to the performers and organizers of A Garland For Linda.
Music does have an extraordinary power to move people and to provide a source of hope.
Linda McCartney, who married the former Beatle, Paul McCartney, in 1969, was a celebrated photographer, animal rights campaigner, cookbook author and musician. As a musician, Linda performed alongside her husband on a number of albums and on numerous world tours. In the last months of her life, she and Paul completed recordings of songs she had written herself. Linda McCartney died of cancer in 1998. The U.K. launch of A Garland For Linda successfully took place on January 27th, at St Andrew's Church in Holborn, London, where a special concert featured all the works on the new album, and was attended by Sir Paul McCartney and several of the other composers.