Commotio (Oxford-based choir)
Commotio is an Oxford-based chamber choir formed in August 1999 to promote neglected contemporary choral repertoire.
History
Its conductor (and founder) is Matt Berry.[1][2] Matt studied music at University College, Oxford, where he was Organ Scholar and then Assistant Organist. He has studied organ under David Sanger, David Goode and Ian Curror, and choral direction with Patrick Russill.
Commotio's performances have included the 2nd UK concert performance of Alfred Schnittke's Requiem, the World Première of Pierre Villette’s Inviolata and Peter Klatzow’s[3] Prayers and Dances from Africa.
Commotio also promotes and performs the works of a younger generation of composers, most recently Jonathan Bridcut,[4] Richard Allain,[5] Mihyun Woo, Robert Fokkens, John Duggan[6] and Alexander Campkin.[7]
Commotio's debut CD of South African choral music was released in February 2006, followed by a CD for Choir and Cello[8] in February 2008. A track from the latter disc, Richard Allain’s Ubi caritas,[9] was chosen to feature on the Classic FM core playlist and appears in the compilation CD Smooth Classics – the Ultimate Collection. A CD of the music of James Whitbourn[10] was released on the Naxos label in February 2010.
Commotio has commissioned Oxford composer John Duggan, and Richard Allain, and most recently Edward Cowie.
Performances
World premières
| Composer | Work |
|---|---|
| Richard Allain | Night * |
| Ambrož Čopi[11] | Ave Maria * |
| Edward Cowie | Autumn (from Four Seasons) * |
| John Duggan | Futility * |
| The singing will never be done * | |
| Anthem for doomed youth * | |
| Martin Eastwood | Ave Maria |
| See, the word is incarnate | |
| Henry Howard | Song for Lydia |
| Thomas Hyde[12] | As a lily among thorns * |
| O nata lux | |
| Sweet was the song | |
| Francis Pott | As Joseph was a-walking |
| Balulalow | |
| Pierre Villette | Inviolata |
| James Whitbourn | He carried me away with the spirit * |
| Mihyun Woo | Voices of a Landscape * |
Written for the choir *
European premières
| Composer | Work |
|---|---|
| Jaakko Mäntyjärvi | O magnum mysterium |
| James Whitbourn | Luminosity |
UK premières
| Composer | Work |
|---|---|
| Ambrož Čopi | O lux beáta Caélitum |
| Exaudi Domine | |
| Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus | |
| Frank Ferko | Lord, let at last Thine angels come |
| Jon Mostad[13] | The Lord is my shepherd |
| Sing to the Lord | |
| Fredrik Sixten | Mariahymn |
| Tantum ergo | |
| Rudi Tas[14] | Miserere |
Other significant performances
| Composer | Work |
|---|---|
| Richard Allain | Cradle Song |
| Charles Ives | Psalm 90 |
| Peter Dickinson | Tiananmen 1989 |
| The Dry Heart | |
| Paul Hindemith | Mass |
| Peter Klatzow | Prayers and Dances of Praise from Africa |
| Knut Nystedt | Stabat Mater |
| Alfred Schnittke | Requiem |
Commercial Recordings
| Published | Title | Label | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Towards the Light – Choral Works of Peter Klatzow | Herald | HAVPCD 316 |
| 2008 | Night – Music for Choir and Cello | Herald | HAVPCD 340 |
| 2010 | James Whitbourn – Luminosity | Naxos | 8.572103 |
| 2012 | In the Heart of Things – Choral Music of Francis Pott | Naxos | 8.572739 |
| 2013 | The Rose in the Middle of Winter – Bob Chilcott | Naxos | 8.573159 |
References
External links
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