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WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING Presenting the world premiere recording of The Present, by renowned Scottish composer, Sir James MacMillan, with lyrics by Francis Henry Newbery. The release celebrates the 10th anniversary of the GSA Choir. Writing about the work, Musical Director, Jamie Sansbury, says, "There is a sense of grandeur and of epic ambition in The Present that one associates more frequently with much longer, multi-movement works. This comes not only from the profound nature of the topic – the transience of the present moment and how, all too quickly, it is consigned to the past, immutable and unforgiving – but from the nature of the music itself. The very extremes of choral writing are present; wordless melodic lines, reminiscent of plainchant, performed by individual sets of voices, giving a feeling of monastic simplicity and calm contrasted, at times, with full-throated cries from the entire chorus; chords of unease and instability, of warning." The Present is also available to stream, or buy online from your preferred digital platform, here.
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Introducing our second full album, Radiant Dawn. Featuring works by Brahms, Saint-Saëns, Tavener, Vaughan-Willliams, MacMillan and others, the album was released in September 2019. Track list: O Radiant Dawn from The Strathclyde Motets James MacMillan, lyrics by Anon. Hymn to the Mother of God from Two Hymns to the Mother of God, No. 1 John Tavener, lyrics by Anon. Ave Maris Stella James MacMillan, lyrics by Anon. Ubi Caritas Ola Gjeilo, lyrics by Anon. Waldesnacht from Sieben Lieder, Op. 62, No. 3 Johannes Brahms, lyrics by Paul Heyse The Cloud-Capp’d Towers from Three Shakespeare Songs, Op. 6, No. 2 Ralph Vaughan Williams, lyrics by William Shakespeare Intercession in Late October from Mid-Winter Songs Morten Lauridsen, lyrics by Robert Graves Calme des Nuits from 2 Choruses, Op. 68, No. 1 Camille Saint-Saëns Sure on this Shining Night Samuel Barber, lyrics by James Agee Sleep Eric Whitacre, lyrics by Charles Anthony Silvestri Irish Blessing Bob Chilcott, lyrics by Anon.
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Introducing our debut CD, Lines and Spaces. Featuring works by Duruflé, Rachmaninoff and Lauridsen, the album showcases some of the most powerful, moving and magical examples of choral writing from the past century. The Herald says of the album, "[The] material is wide and challenging…and the recording..is high quality, with some fine..accompaniment". Track list: Ubi Caritas from Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, Op. 10 Maurice Duruflé Tota Pulchra Es from Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, Op. 10 Maurice Duruflé The Snow, Op. 26 Edward Elgar, arranged John Pointer, words C. Alice Elgar Bogoroditse Devo from All-Night Vigil, Op. 37 Sergei Rachmaninoff Dirait-on from Les Chansons des Roses Morten Lauridsen, words Rainer Maria Rilke Ae Fond Kiss Traditional, arranged S. K. Hope, words Robert Burns My Funny Valentine Richard Rodgers, arranged Kirby Shaw, words Lorenz Hart Lassie, wad ye loe me? James MacMillan, words anonymous The Seal Lullaby Eric Whitacre, words Rudyard Kipling
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Light Through Tall Windows was written as a response to the fire which partially damaged the Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art in 2014. This new choral work is a collaboration between two GSA alumni and is being sold as a single to raise funds for the restoration of the 'Mack'. Describing the work, Jamie Sansbury says, "This piece is an attempt to set down, in a more tangible way, the joy the Mackintosh Building instils in students and staff at the School, the enduring enlightenment it represents, and the impact that has upon them for the rest of their lives. The work is dedicated to the staff, students and alumni of the GSA." All monies raised from sales of the recording will go directly to the Mackintosh Campus Appeal. The piece is available as a limited edition CD complete with accompanying essays and artwork (strictly limited edition run) or as a digital download. In addition to these, we have 20 signed copies of the CD available to purchase: these bear the signatures of the composer and lyricist.
