These talented U.S. high school students recorded the ten parts for this arrangement while in lockdown, all using different microphones in different locations. The challenge for me was to clarify the recordings and then mix the tracks to sound as though they had been performed together, with the balance and nuance of a real performance, correcting and perfecting.
In concert 2020
Some happy news as the year draws to a close!
For some months I have been working with a lyricist, setting his words to music. The first of these compositions is a choral work for a Military Wives choir. The work has been selected by one such choir for their 2020 concerts.
Realising music on the computer for SATB
This week I completed another audio realisation for the Cecilia Chorus of New York. The new composition is by the Balliett brothers and receives its premiere in Carnegie Hall in May 2019. For more information about the concert, please visit their site: http://ceciliachorusny.org/#/brahms-elgar-brothers-balliett/
Audio realisation is a time-consuming process because you not only replicate the sheet music on the computer, but must then interpret the piece as a performance within the limits of sampled instruments. This means paying meticulous attention to changes in dynamics and tempi, as shown by the automation below.
This work had 5 movements. Each movement had at least Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. Sometimes the parts were divided. For each section of the choir, I produce each movement with their own voice featured, one version with and another without metronome. I also produce full SATB reference tracks, with no voice featured. This project was special because there was a solo voice as well. So I produced some SATB versions without the soloist included, so that the choir could learn their role more thoroughly. There were 52 tracks in total for the Balliett brother’s compositions.
Realisations for Cecilia Chorus of New York
It has been a pleasure to work once again with the Cecilia Chorus of New York in preparation for their March concert. They are performing three complex works and commissioned me to prepare audio versions of the pieces, with each choir section’s part picked out for practice purposes.
Samples from the three works are below.
I wish the choir every success in learning such complex works!
Chester Philharmonic Orchestra at Chester Cathedral
Tonight, I had the pleasure of enjoying Chester Philharmonic Orchestra performing in the stunning setting of Chester Cathedral.
It was an ambitious programme of Beethoven and Brahms, playing to a large and appreciative audience in the heart of the Cathedral.
The concert began powerfully with Beethoven’s Fidelio. Conductor David Chatwin coped admirably with the large reverb of the Cathedral surroundings, allowing the drama of the piece to develop. The strings and timpani were especially dynamic. Fidelio proved to be a good choice to warm the orchestra up for Brahms’ Violin Concerto, with soloist Qian Wu. While not denying her technical facility in the rapid portions of this composition, she seemed to shine brightest in the lilting lyrical passages. The role of the orchestra in supporting a concerto soloist is never one to envy, but they gave a sensitive performance, maintained to the final bar.
After the interval, the last piece of the evening was Beethoven’s Pastoral – Symphony no. 6. This well-known composition has so much exposed writing that it is a good test of an orchestra’s ability. Coming at the end of a busy concert, they might have been tired but it didn’t show. The atmosphere of the concert was friendly and welcoming and a credit to the hard work of the dedicated musicians of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra.
A Tree Call'd Judith
Submitted to the New Cambridge Singers' composition competition, with original text based on an unfinished poem by William Cowper: A Tree Call'd Judith.
The Pied Piper - with children's choir
My completed competition entry of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, from the original text by Robert Browning.
Voces 8 singing "Remember Now"
What a fantastic time we had in St. Andrews! In 36 hours we travelled 600 miles on 7 trains and 2 buses, toured the cathedral in sunshine and the castle under silvery skies. We even fitted in a flying visit to the Medieval Church in Leuchars before heading home. But the highlight was spending Thursday evening in the company of Voces 8, as with good humour and consummate talent, they patiently performed 4 new compositions and led critical discussion with each composer. Thank you, Voces 8 and thanks also to Chris Bragg, Sonia Stevenson and Bede Williams for arranging the event.
"Tapestry of Love" released by Soundiff
One of my compositions, Tapestry of Love, is included on Soundiff's latest release, Miniatures vol 1. The piece is for solo flute.
This work alludes to the love of Penelope, waiting decades for the return of her Odysseus. She weaves the tapestry to stall her suitors, promising to marry when it is complete. Every time she finishes the tapestry, she unravels all of her work to buy Odysseus more time. The recapitulation of the theme in this work echoes that fact, presenting the same notes with slightly different articulations, just as the same tapestry would be almost identical and yet differ in the details. The coda to the work sets aside the activity of sewing, for the stillness of resolution - the return of the beloved.
