Volume 9 of Art Choral, released this fall, highlights 13 a cappella works written by 13 living female composers.
This album has everything, from more classical choral music to body percussion and the use of onomatopoeia. Each piece stands out from the other 12, whether in style, subject matter, or inspiration, which is the strength of this album.
Among the more obscure pieces is Say the Names by Katya Pine, about victims of a violent act in a Sikh community in the United States. This work is intended as a tribute to those who have passed away, most of whom are anonymous. It is very moving.
On a lighter note, Alice Ping Yee Hoo’s A Minute to Mozart, based on a text by Sara Teasdale, showcases the impressive skill of an eight-voice choir. There is also Dust the Water, which highlights the beauty of equal voices (separate male and female voices).
Although this album is excellent, I believe there are two things missing from this opus: the piano and Quebec (Sophie Dupuis is from New Brunswick). For an album that aims to be a “glimpse of the national choral landscape, a portrait of here and now,” one wonders why composers such as Ruth Watson-Henderson, Marie-Claire Saindon, and France Levasseur-Ouimet are not included.
