Divine Art Records MEX77125
72’56
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We are thrilled to present this CD of music by Liz Dilnot Johnson in her 60th birthday year. We have loved working closely with Liz for several years, as she explains in the booklet:

“This album celebrates my creative relationship with Ex Cathedra over the last nine years and as [a] composer-in-residence since 2021. The recording was made in three intense days at the Bradshaw Hall (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), the warm but clearly defined acoustic revealing the choir’s exceptional vocal skills.

“The first eight tracks span nearly forty years of my composing life, up to A Wild Midwinter Carol [2022] – the first of my new set of ‘eco-songs’. The second half of the album presents When A Child Is A Witness – requiem for refugees – one of the largest and most ambitious collaborations with Ex Cathedra so far, and winner of an Ivors Composer Award 2022.”

Read a Q&A with Liz Dilnot Johnson about the CD.

REVIEWS:

“an artistically ambitious and emotionally compelling work that is firmly rooted in the contributions of the participants … evocative music with a purpose and meaningful sense of engagement.” (Ivor Composer Awards – jury citation)

“The most substantial work is When a Child is a Witness – Requiem for Refugees (2022)… In this extended work the composer takes the opportunity to display her stylistic versatility; the larger canvass as well as the global concerns of the various texts demand such an approach… the result is most effective… it succeeds in conveying not only the pain of war, but, in the words of the composer, ‘my Requiem aims to look forward to vision of unity and peace.’ It hardly needs to be stated that Ex Cathedra’s performances of these pieces under Jeffrey Skidmore are beyond reproach… the words are admirably clear. This recording represents a significant achievement, and I shall seek out other recordings of this composer’s music.” (British Music Society) – read the full review…

“a commission from Malvern-based Liz Dilnot Johnson, The Windover, depicts a soaring falcon riding the thermals… in the English choral tradition but with interesting choral wind rustling effects and some memorable high voice writing which builds to a stirring vocal climax as the sun breaks over the horizon.” (www.midlandmusicreviews.co.uk review of our 2021 performance)