Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Cedille

Dance of the Night Sky

$19.99

Details

Composer
Sally Beamish, Carol J. Jones, Grace-Evangeline Mason, Dobrinka Tabakova, Shirley J. Thompson, Freya
Artist
Black Oak Ensemble
Format
CD
Label
Cedille
Released
May 09, 2025
Catalog #
CDR 237
UPC
735131923729

About

Dance of the Night Sky, Black Oak Ensemble's third album on Cedille, aims to expand the boundaries of the string trio repertoire, offering listeners a vibrant collection of contemporary works including four world premiere recordings, all by British women composers. Comprising of violinist Desiree Ruhstrat, violist Aurelian Fort Pederzoli, and cellist David Cunliffe, the Black Oak Ensemble has been praised for their "insightful, committed and masterful performances" (ClassicsToday) and "fierce eloquence" (London Times). The album opens with the world premiere recording of Shirley J. Thompson's Dance of the Night Sky, written for Black Oak Ensemble and premiered at the 2024 Cedille Soiree gala, showcasing the composer's distinctive style, which has also marked historic occasions including Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. The concept for the album was borne from an accidental Google search for "soccer" and "British composers," leading to the discovery of Thompson's Concerto for Football and Orchestra. This sparked a deeper exploration of string trios by British women and the idea to highlight the eight composers on the album, each bringing a unique voice to the string trio repertoire. With vivid musical imagery ranging from a steam train station in Zimbabwe in Carol J. Jones' bulawayo railway to the enigmatic poetry of Friedrich Nietzsche in Grace-Evangeline Mason's Into The Abyss, I Throw Roses-both world premiere recordings - the album showcases a multigenerational array of commissions. Sally Beamish's The King's Alchemist comprises four variations on the French folksong "L'Homme Arme" while exploring the story of John Damian, a European alchemist at the court of Scottish King James IV who donned wings to fly to France from Scotland's Stirling Castle (he didn't make it). Dobrinka Tavakova's Insight blends the voices of the string trio into a singular sound, evoking instruments such as the accordion and a brass fanfare. Recently appointed Master of the King's Music, Errollyn Wallen is one of the 20 most-performed living composers. Making Hay, in it's world premiere recording, takes her arrangement of J.S. Bach's Prelude in E Major from Book 1 of The Well Tempered Clavier and transforms it into a virtuosic display for string trio.

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 Dance of the Night Sky 07:17
    Track
    1
    Title
    Dance of the Night Sky
    Duration
    07:17
    Composer
    Shirley J. Thompson
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  2. 2 I. Salute 02:41
    Track
    2
    Title
    I. Salute
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Judith Weir
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  3. 3 II. Nocturne 01:38
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. Nocturne
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Judith Weir
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  4. 4 III. Lament, over the sea 03:07
    Track
    4
    Title
    III. Lament, over the sea
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Judith Weir
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  5. 5 Insight 10:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    Insight
    Duration
    10:16
    Composer
    Dobrinka Tabakova
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  6. 6 bulawayo railway 03:05
    Track
    6
    Title
    bulawayo railway
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Carol Jones
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  7. 7 Conjure 13:10
    Track
    7
    Title
    Conjure
    Duration
    13:10
    Composer
    Freya Waley-Cohen
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  8. 8 I. Cantus 03:27
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Cantus
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    Sally Beamish
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  9. 9 II. Aquam vitae 02:10
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Aquam vitae
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Sally Beamish
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  10. 10 III. Pavane 03:14
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Pavane
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Sally Beamish
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  11. 11 IV. Avis hominis 02:42
    Track
    11
    Title
    IV. Avis hominis
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Sally Beamish
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  12. 12 Into the Abyss, I Throw Roses 08:02
    Track
    12
    Title
    Into the Abyss, I Throw Roses
    Duration
    08:02
    Composer
    Grace-Evangeline Mason
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble
  13. 13 Making Hay 08:19
    Track
    13
    Title
    Making Hay
    Duration
    08:19
    Composer
    Errollyn Wallen
    Ensemble
    Black Oak Ensemble