Artemis / Whale Lament
Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra

Renowned composer, pianist, producer, musical director and artist, Benji Bower unites Bristol’s most acclaimed musicians to form a 60-piece ensemble, The Terra Collective Orchestra. Together, they present their debut album, ‘Terra Coda’ an orchestral ode to Earth, releasing on Friday 11th October.

The first offering from the album is double single “Artemis / Whale Lament”. “Artemis” inspired by the third element Earth, was written on the North Cornish coast overlooking Pentire Point; the piece reflects Benji’s profound empathy during a time when his dear friend’s mother was terminally ill with cancer. This poignant composition is inspired by themes of self, maturity and facing death for the first time. The track’s title pays homage to Artemis, the Greek goddess of nature and wildness, paralleling the Roman goddess Diana, after whom Benji’s friend’s mother was named. “Whale Lament” influenced by the fifth element Water, draws inspiration from the wisdom of old age, the majesty of whales and the juxtaposition of tension and tranquillity. This track, characterised by its organic and lachrymose style, evokes the timeless imagery of the deep sea. The arrangement, highlighted by a sorrowful string section, captures the essence of a lament, reflecting the profound emotions and wisdom of the natural world.

‘Terra Coda’ has been a lifelong project for Benji, intertwining exceptional musical depth with his unwavering commitment to pivotal environmental concerns. Conceptually rich, it explores musical, political and environmental dimensions, reflecting Benji’s journey and meticulous attention to detail. The Terra Collective Orchestra boasts an impressive array of experience, having worked for, produced, engineered or toured with renowned artists such as The Heritage Orchestra, Portishead, Bonobo, PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, This Is The Kit, Alice Russell, Anoushka Shankar, Peter Gabriel, Elbow, Madness, John Rutter, Sam Cooke, John Williams, Cinematic Orchestra, Paraorchestra and many more. The collective debuted in May 2022 with a three-night residency in Bristol at “The Mount Without”, part of the Mayfest Arts Festival. This residency, featuring 50 orchestra members, sold out every night with 200-250 attendees. Following this success, they performed at the Falmouth Arts Festival, delivering two sold-out shows for 300 people each night, again with 50 performers.

‘Terra Coda’ is a portmanteau that elegantly combines “Terra”, resonating with the Latin for ‘earth’ and “Coda”, a musical term signifying both conclusion and genesis, therefore embodying the orchestral resonance of earthly endings, new beginnings and transformative symphonies. Framed by the Taoist five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – ‘Terra Coda’ is interconnected, relating to all aspects of human nature and our environment. Benji elaborates on his creative process explaining “each element holds an emotional characteristic”. Wood embodies the cycle of birth, youth, vision, frustration and growth. Fire ignites emotions of love, passion, sadness, confusion and isolation. Earth resonates with integrity, worry, empathy, intention and transformation. Metal represents the weight of grief, the act of letting go, justice, inspiration and the paternal role. Water flows with the wisdom of old age, the fears that come with it, moments of calm, the vastness of the sea and the cycle of rebirth, akin to the nurturing embrace of a mother.