Black Oak Ensemble - Dance of the Night Sky - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Dance of the Night Sky, Black Oak Ensemble's third album on Cedille, aims to expand the boundaries of the string trio repertoire, offering listeners a vibrant collection of contemporary works including four world premiere recordings, all by British women composers.Comprising of violinist Desiree Ruhstrat, violist Aurelian Fort Pederzoli, and cellist David Cunliffe, the Black Oak Ensemble has been praised for their Inchinsightful, committed and masterful performancesInch (ClassicsToday) and Inchfierce eloquenceInch (London Times). The album opens with the world premiere recording of Shirley J. Thompson's Dance of the Night Sky, written for Black Oak Ensemble and premiered at the 2024 Cedille Soiree gala, showcasing the composer's distinctive style, which has also marked historic occasions including Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.The concept for the album was borne from an accidental Google search for InchsoccerInch and InchBritish composers,Inch leading to the discovery of Thompson's Concerto for Football and Orchestra. This sparked a deeper exploration of string trios by British women and the idea to highlight the eight composers on the album, each bringing a unique voice to the string trio repertoire.With vivid musical imagery ranging from a steam train station in Zimbabwe in Carol J. Jones' bulawayo railway to the enigmatic poetry of Friedrich Nietzsche in Grace-Evangeline Mason's Into The Abyss, I Throw Roses-both world premiere recordings - the album showcases a multigenerational array of commissions.Sally Beamish's The King's Alchemist comprises four variations on the French folksong InchL'Homme ArmeInch while exploring the story of John Damian, a European alchemist at the court of Scottish King James IV who donned wings to fly to France from Scotland's Stirling Castle (he didn't make it).Dobrinka Tavakova's Insight blends the voices of the string trio into