A Winter Breviary

ISBN-13: 9780193561908 / Angielski

Reena Esmail

Opis

for SATB unaccompanied The three movements of A Winter Breviary are entitled: 'We look for you', 'The year's midnight', and 'The unexpected early hour'. The movements are each based on an Indian classical Raag: Raag Hamsadhwani, Raag Malkauns, and Raag Ahir Bhairav, respectively. The texts, by poet Rebecca Gayle Howell, are linked to the Christian services of Evensong, Matins, and Lauds, and are eco-carols written from the perspective of a different point in time-evening, midnight, and daybreak-using nature to explore a different part of the Christmas story. The first two movements have a serene and pensive atmosphere that contrasts with the third movement, which uses an energetic compound time signature and bell-like melodic shapes.

Recenzje

These contrasting pieces successfully bring together different cultural musical expressions and will suit well a competent choir or a small vocal ensemble looking for a thought-provoking, contemporary piece within a winter or Christmas programme.

O autorze

Reena Esmail works between the worlds of Indian and Western classical music, to bring communities together through the creation of equitable musical spaces. Esmail holds degrees from The Juilliard School and the Yale School of Music, and has written for Kronos Quartet, Albany Symphony and Conspirare. A resident of Los Angeles, Esmail is the 20-23 Swan Family Artist in Residence with Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the 20-21 Composer in Residence with Seattle Symphony. She is the Artistic Director of Shastra, a non-profit organization that promotes cross-cultural music connecting musical traditions of India and the West.