OUT TODAY
Carols after a Plague
A Mid-December Reader
in Five Crossing Chapters!
|
|
1. Carols after a Plague
Released today (our 29th album)
|
|
It’s here.
Carols after a Plague: the album.
We’ve waited a year, because we felt that an album inspired by carols ought to be released in the season of carols!
New works, addressing the plagues we live with in a time of isolation, through the lens of each composer’s idea of a carol: Shara Nova, Tyshawn Sorey, Edith Canat de Chizy, Joseph C. Phillips, Jr., LJ White, Samantha Fernando, Leila Adu-Gilmore, Nina Shekhar, Vanessa Lann, Mary Jane Leach, Alex Berko, and Viet Cuong.
Today’s release on New Focus Recordings is the streaming version, with all the interludes as in the concert, featuring our own Mike Jones on trumpet, Ted Babcock and Dan Schwartz on percussion, Kevin Vondrak on mandolin, and singers of The Crossing ringing bells and chimes. Physical copies available January 6.
|
|
Have a seat, plug in, and listen to it as a concept album; a journey through “our revised reality, but with a kind of humanitarian awareness revealing manifestations of love behind the troubles we're seeing.” (Philadelphia Inquirer review of the premiere)
Thanks to the many, many artists and friends who got us here, especially to the anonymous donor who ensures our albums make it to the finish line!
|
|
2. The Crossing @ Christmas 2022
Tickets for Rittenhouse Square and Chestnut Hill
|
|
The East Coast premiere of a new work of Caroline Shaw, contemplating our relationship with the Earth – literally, the soil, it’s minerals and colors as a metaphor for our curation of the environment. Caroline’s Ochre is paired with Mason Bates’ Mass Transmission (featuring Scott Dettra at the organ) – remembering the earliest wireless communications, making the world smaller, while magnifying distances – with two works of David Lang about peace.
The Crossing @ Christmas is not holiday music in a traditional sense; instead, it is our tradition of exploring just what is the message of these holidays in real time. Read Donald's blog for Penn Live Arts on our annual December tradition, here.
|
|
Ochre was commissioned by The Crossing, Cantori New York, Notre Dame
|
|
3. We’re nominated for a Grammy!
|
|
We realize we shouted it out on the socials, but never formally put it in writing!
Seven consecutive years of Grammy nominations, tying Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Chorus’ record of "most consecutive years of nominations in the category of Best Choral Performance!"
BORN: music of Michael Gilbertson and Edie Hill
Our 8th nomination for Best Choral Performance.
We're also on the Grammy-nominated Sila: the Breath of the World
by John Luther Adams (Best Orchestral Performance)
Thanks for getting us to this amazing place.
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony is Sunday, February 5th, 2023.
|
|
While we’re at it, we had an album released in November that we also announced on socials, but were rather demure about in this, our ‘listen up’ space. Ty Braxton’s amazing, colossal, swirling color-wheel of a piece, Telekinesis, with the Metropolis Ensemble, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and us. The New York Times says this is “Braxton in full command of his art.” We couldn’t agree more. Titanic Telekinesis. On Nonesuch. Purchase here.
|
|
Going back to Chapter 1 of our Mid-December Reader (and a reward for those of you reading to the bottom!). We love these Carols so much, we made videos! It’s time to share – a little ‘get you in the spirit’ music.
Today’s offering: Alex Berko’s Exodus, from Carols after a Plague. Just a little more visual to add to the streaming album released today. A collaboration with our friends at Four/Ten Media, filmed at Christ Church Neighborhood House, with audio by our sound designer Paul Vazquez of Digital Mission Audio Services. Keep up with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube as we release more.
|
|
Carols after a Plague cover art by Sasan Pix (@sasanpix)
Born cover art by Christopher St. John
PCCH photo by Kevin Vondrak
Christmas Pines by Beth Haidle.
|
|
New music only happens through your support. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
