Just days after the successful Composeher world premiere concert, the GSA Choir has announced that it will be recording all seven pieces later this year. The news will extend the reach of the project, raise the profile of the work and enable other choirs to consider programming these wonderful compositions in future.
Commenting on the news, GSA Choir Musical Director, Jamie Sansbury said; “During the workshops held as part of Composeher, one of the challenges the composers discussed with us was how to get their music heard by more people. Sadly, it is often the case that once a piece has been commissioned and premiered, it never gets another outing. So, the only people who get to hear it are those lucky enough to be in the audience at that first performance.
“As a choir, we wanted to address this, to ensure that the Composeher works continue to be performed by ourselves and other ensembles. We set about raising sufficient funds to have each piece professionally recorded and are delighted that we reached our target and will be able to record all seven pieces at the New Auditorium at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall later this year.
“This will allow other ambitious ensembles, like ours, to hear them and, hopefully, inspire them to programme if not all, then at least some, of these in their own performances.
“Glasgow’s City Halls was packed for the world premiere concert and the audience gave the choir and the composers a standing ovation – so we know that people really engaged with the pieces. We have fallen in love with them all and really want to make sure that others can perform them too – they deserve to be heard time and time again.”
Ailie Robertson, composer, said; “I know I can say on behalf of all seven composers that we are thrilled that the GSA Choir is continuing with its mission to promote female composers and to do what it can to make sure the commissioned work is performed and shared as widely as possible.
“The news that the choir now has sufficient funds to record the work is fantastic – it is so much more powerful to be able to share a recording and hopefully it will mean that many more people will get to know the work and be inspired to perform it.”
Once all seven compositions have been recorded a Composeher CD will be produced. This will be available free to choral ensembles interested in performing the works. While this will be limited to one free copy per ensemble, the CD will be available to buy and the works will be available to stream online.