HUNDREDS of people last night gathered to celebrate 50 years of a powerful anti-war message.

War Requiem, a moving 85-minute piece, created by the late composer Benjamin Britten, was performed by 150 musicians at Oxford Town Hall.

The requiem is considered one of the world’s most powerful pieces of music and celebrated for its anti-war message.

A full symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra and various choirs came together for the performance, which was conducted by acclaimed young musician Mark Simpson.

The 23-year-old, who studied music at Oxford University’s St Catherine’s College, told the Oxford Mail earlier this month: “It takes you through a gamut of emotions.

“The music lasts 85 minutes and within that there are so many styles and different types of music.

“It is incredibly hard to direct it but also amazingly powerful.”

The War Requiem was written in 1962 for the reconsecration of Coventry Cathedral, which had been destroyed during a German air raid on the West Midlands city, a key arms manufacturing centre during the Second World War.

It combines the music with war poetry from Wilfred Owen and liturgy from the Requiem Mass.

More than 500 school pupils also took part in a workshop yesterday, where Mr Simpson talked them through the piece with the help of an orchestra and choir.

The Liverpool-born conductor and clarinetist, who won the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 2006, said the Oxford concert had been his biggest to date.