Evelyn Ficarra - Distant Voices New Worlds - Songs Landscapes - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

This exciting album features world premiere recordings of nine chamber and solo works, profiling the distinctive and diverse voices of five celebrated British composers. The album explores the rich theme of the English landscape and it's cultural history through innovative and evocative music.InchDistant Voices, New WorldsInch is inspired by the interplay of contemporary and historical perspectives on landscape. At it's heart are four specially commissioned songs from 2022 for soprano and ensemble, forming the South Downs Songbook. This project meditates upon and celebrates the human experience of the South Downs, the chalk hills stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne. The project included extensive educational initiatives and the creation of a resource pack on composing, available through the Orchestra of Sound and Light, the Brighton-based ensemble known for blending traditional and contemporary instruments and incorporating visual art and moving images.The commissioned composers-Shirley J Thompson, Rowland Sutherland, Evelyn Ficarra, and Ed Hughes-each bring a unique perspective to the project. Their works are inspired by walking the South Downs and are set to texts that offer varied views on landscape and history Shirley Thompson set Phillis Wheatley's InchAn Hymn to the EveningInch (1753-1784), reflecting Wheatley's experiences in England. Rowland Sutherland chose a poem by Charlotte Turner Smith (1749-1806). Ed Hughes adapted words by Marion Robinson (1937), an early contributor to the Mass Observation Archive, influenced by William Blake's visions of the South Downs skies. Evelyn Ficarra set a poem by contemporary Brighton-based poet Valerie Whittington.Complementing these works are five additional compositions recorded by the New Music Players, creating a kaleidoscope of new British music and historical voices. Highlights include An instrumental elaboratio