UYMP University of York Music Press

Album release and world premiere for James Weeks

30 March 2017

Released last month, Mala punica is James Weeks' sixth album recording. The Winter and Winter release features the title track Mala punica, a series of eight canonic motets, alongside Walled Garden, an instrumental work for string and flute trios. The recording features Weeks' own vocal ensemble EXAUDI and the Hortus Ensemble. The two works intertwine on the album with the eight motets divided by three instrumental movements.

The two featured works received high praise when they were premiered by the same ensembles in 2015. The Guardian noted the 'extraordinary light and colour' of the works whilst The Sunday Times called it 'a truly thrilling excursion'. It brings great excitement, then, that this album has now been released.

Our full report on the premiere is available here.

EXAUDI are also this week premiering a brand new work by Weeks, Libro di fiammelle e ombre. The world premiere takes place on Saturday 1 April, 7:30pm at Wigmore Hall and will be recorded by BBC Radio 3. The new work will be available after the premiere.

The following week, Leistershire Chorale also performs three of Weeks' works, Orlando Tenebrae, A Tear and Sacred Muses, at its evening concert on Satuday 8 April in Holy Cross Priory Church, Leicester.

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