Many Voices: Ensemble (10 flexible new works for ensemble)

Release date: 27 October 2023

The second instalment in the Many Voices series, released in partnership with Music Masters and Composers Edition, features a new collection of ten flexible ensemble works from a diverse roster of leading composers: Abel Selaocoe, Aileen Sweeney, Blasio Kavuma, James MacMillan, Jasmin Kent Rodgman, Roderick Williams, Rūta Vitkauskaitė, Sonia Allori, Tom Coult and Tom Poster.

Performed by the acclaimed Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, these works for musicians Grades 2-6 aim to respond to the relative lack of high-quality, flexible contemporary ensemble repertoire available, particularly for young learners. 

The scores for each piece are available to buy individually or together from the Composers Edition website here: composersedition.com/manyvoices  

These new works were created in collaboration with young people aged 8-10 learning music through Music Masters’ award-winning Schools Programme. Composers were encouraged and supported to embed the voices of these young collaborators into their pieces in this unique co-creation approach. The finished works celebrate the joy and community of making music together, particularly in response to the sense of isolation felt by many during the global pandemic, whilst shining a spotlight on children and young people’s creative potential, and the ability of educators and artists to nurture this.

The first edition of Many Voices, released in 2018, saw NMC join forces with Music Masters to commission ten of the UK’s most exciting composers to create ambitious works for young instrumentalists learning violin at a Grade 2-5 standard. Made available via NMC as a sheet music book and CD and on all streaming platforms, the collection of works which was recorded by violinist Hyeyoon Park and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor has received performances not only from young musicians in the Music Masters Schools Programme but also learner and professional musicians across the UK.

Find out more and buy Many Voices: Violin here.

TRACKLISTING
1) Tom Coult Abide
2) James MacMillan Rout
3) Aileen Sweeney The Corryvreckan Whirlpool
4) Jasmin Kent Rodgman how to be an ocean
5) Abel Selaocoe Ditoro Kaofela
6) Rūta Vitkauskaitė The Storm
7) Roderick Williams Hello, hello? Can you hear me?
8) Tom Poster Lullaby and Waddle for Puffin
9) Sonia Allori Stars
10) Blasio Kavuma What's for dinner?

AUDIO

REVIEWS

THE HAPPIEST MUSIC OF 2023 (A Closer Listen)

"The album is a joy to listen to [...] We recommend this album to all audiences, but especially to parents and teachers alike whose passion is to instill a love of music in children. Be sure to inform grade schoolers that other grade schoolers helped to write this music; they may then be inspired to write and play music of their own." A Closer Listen

"A wonderful basis for creative ensemble music making," BBC Music Magazine

FUNDERS

Produced in partnership with Music Masters and Composers Edition.

RECORDING CREDITS

Recorded in Wathen Hall, St Paul’s School on 8 April 2023
DAVID LEFEBER Producer, Engineer and Editor

Catalogue number: NMC DL3055
Release date: 27 October 2023