Weeks’ ‘Primo Libro’ released by Ekmeles, on New Focus Recordings

James Weeks’ fascinating work Primo Libro, a set of 16 short madrigals, has been released on CD by Ekmeles vocal ensemble, led by director Jeffrey Gavett, on New Focus Recordings (CD fcr394 -‘We Live the Opposite Daring’).  Dan Lippel of New Focus writes that the new release references ‘the past through tuning systems, texts, extended vocal techniques, and poignant histories’ and describes Ekmeles’ performance of the works on the CD as ‘nothing short of sublime’.  Week’s ‘Primo Libro’ is inspired by Nicola Vicentino’s (1511-1575/6) madrigals, with which Weeks first became acquainted in 2010, whilst working on a project with selected members of the BBC Singers.  

Micklegate Singers Concert (23/03/24) to Feature First Performance of 'A Quaker Triology'

The Micklegate Singers have their Spring concert at 7:30 PM on Saturday 23rd March at St Lawrence's Church. Alongside works by Cardoso, MacMillan, Antognini, Whitbourn, and Howells, the programme will include the first complete performance of the collection A Quaker Triology. This collection features text by poet William Penn set by three York composers: Frederick VinerDavid McGregor, and Joe Bates.

Late Music York - March concerts

UYMP's friends Late Music York have three exciting concerts coming up this first weekend in March, at the Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, York.  Hilary Suckling’s lunchtime piano recital (1pm, Saturday 2nd March) will include works by York-based composers Martin Suckling and James Else. The Saturday 2nd March evening concert (7.30pm), on the theme of ‘Passion’, to be given by the Elysian Singers, will include the world premiere of UYMP composer David Lancaster’s Crucifixion, a commission from Late Music.  The Sunday 3rd March lunchtime concert at 1pm, by the Clerkes of All Saints, spans a journey from Monteverdi to Saint-Saens, through Macmillan’s Scotland and Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Latvia, to Estonia with Pärt Uusberg.

Choir & Organ Magazine Features Robert Saxton and Jonathan Clinch

Page 9 of the January issue of Choir & Organ magazine featured an interview on the collaboration between Jonathan Clinch and composer Robert Saxton. Clinch notes that the collaboration began during lockdown, as the two began to explore the possibilities of the digital organ software Hauptwerk. These comissions eventually culminated in a recent recording in which 5 of Saxton's organ works are intertwined with solo music by J.S. Bach. Clinch explains that "preparing the Saxton has changed the manner in which I've played the Bach as much as the Bach has changed the way I play the Saxton. For the listener, I hope this demonstrates the ways in which this "new" music relates to the past, but also how "new" Bach's music can appear".

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