Mezzo-soprano Lucy Goddard is a passionate exponent of both early and contemporary music, often performing as a core member of the vocal ensemble EXAUDI.
Performer Biography
Pianist Siwan Rhys is known for her multifaceted virtuosity and rich palette of timbral and dynamic control, as noted in reviews of her solo recordings and performances.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer James Weeks aimed to create a sense of scale in "Plain Air" through "musicalised empty space," into which vocal episodes setting Nan Shepherd's text are placed.
Composition History
James Weeks's "Plain Air" is a musical response to "The Living Mountain" (1977), a celebrated work of nature-writing by Scottish writer Nan Shepherd.
Compositional Technique
Each vocal episode in "Plain Air" consists of two parts: a recitation of Nan Shepherd's text followed by a wordless vocalise, which aims to draw out the embodied nature of Shepherd's writing.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, St Hilda's College, Oxford, UK, on September 12, 2025.
Composer Biography
James Weeks, the composer, is also a conductor and artistic director, and in 2002 he co-founded EXAUDI, a leading vocal ensemble for new music.
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