A group of South Shore singers and musicians have been called together for an encore performance for The Seafarer's Requiem "For Those Lost at Sea," composed by Mary Knickle of Lunenburg.

Originally performed in February, Ms Knickle said popular demand of the powerful dedication to those lost at sea has prompted her to reoffer the performance on September 6.

"The Seafarer's Requiem honours those lost at sea," said Ms Knickle, noting it took her a year to write. "I, as a composer, had always wanted to write a requiem and it just seemed so fitting to write a seafarer's requiem."

Ms Knickle explained that a requiem is a Latin mass for the departed. She said most composers in history have written a requiem but, over time, it has changed into themed performances. One of the most recent requiems is called Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation, composed by Jeffrey Ryan.

True to her storytelling ancestry, Ms Knickle's requiem uses folk stories to tie together pieces of music. She said the requiem is compellingly presented, combining the Latin Mass with rich choral arrangements with Celtic, classical and folk influence.

"Not only in the story do we have fishermen, we have sailors ... merchant marines," said Ms Knickle. "It's a whole group of stories mixed in with Latin mass and I took poems from the public domain ... and wrote music for it."

The pieces of the concert are glued together with choral arrangements that tell moving and profound stories about seafarers who have survived, those who were lost and those left behind.

"The Seafarer's Requiem is dramatic, thoughtful and, in the end, hopeful," said Ms Knickle. "It is a magnificent tribute to both our history and legacy in this maritime landscape. It is a universal anthem for anyone who lives with the immense beauty, power and tragedy of the sea. ... It's a concert of stories and songs about men lost at sea and the woman who wait for them."

The performance will be conducted by Wayne Rogers, with accompanist Erin Donovan and flutist Ann Schmechel. Soloists will be Paula Philips, Nina Scott-Stoddart, Pamela Rogers, John Ernst, Elijah Ernst, Hannah Ernst and Olivia Dakin. The chorus consists of singers from the South Shore. The storytellers will be Janet Mason and Tom Gallant.

The hour-long performance takes place at Central United Church in Lunenburg on September 6 at 8 p.m. The following day the group takes their show to Shelburne.

Ms Knickle said it is hoped some day this requiem can be performed on a larger scale and to a wider audience.

"You can't help being touched by the sea. It doesn't matter where you're from," she added.