End of My Days Manchester Collective

• Brian Elias (b. 1948): Meet Me in the Green Glen:
• 1 Elias: Meet Me in the Green Glen 04:16
• Caroline Shaw (b. 1982): Valencia:
• 2 Shaw: Valencia 05:29
• Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958): Along the Field:
• 3 Williams: Along the Field 04:20
• John Tavener (1944 - 2013): Akhmatova Songs:
• 4 Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: I. Dante 02:50
• 5 Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: III. Boris Pasternak 02:17
• 6 Tavener: Akhmatova Songs: IV. Couplet 02:13
• John Dowland (1563 - 1626): Two Dowland Songs:
• 7 Dowland: Two Dowland Songs: Go Crystal Tears 03:57
• 8 Dowland: Two Dowland Songs: Flow My Tears 07:04
• Traditional: Da Day Dawn:
• 9 Traditional: Da Day Dawn 04:00
• Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937): End of My Days:
• 10 Ravel: Kaddisch 05:47
• Errollyn Wallen (b. 1958): End of My Days:
• 11 Wallen: End of My Days 05:24
• Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918): Trois chansons de Bilitis, FL 37:
• 12 Debussy: Trois chansons de Bilitis, FL 37: I. La flûte de Pan 02:54
• 13 Debussy: Trois chansons de Bilitis, FL 37: II. La chevelure 03:56
• 14 Debussy: Trois chansons de Bilitis, FL 37: III. Le tombeau des naïades 03:05
• Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911): Urlicht:
• 15 Mahler: Urlicht 05:15
• Deborah Pritchard (b. 1977): Peace:
• 16 Pritchard: Peace 03:13
• Total Runtime 01:06:00

Info for End of My Days

The inspiration for this album came about from Ruby Hughes’ first collaboration with the Manchester Collective in the spring of 2020. During the first Covid lockdown, they built the programme of this recital for the purpose of touring the UK and uplifting their audiences at a time when we were all being confronted by challenging notions of mortality and isolation. As artists, they asked themselves what music might attend to the prevailing concerns of this time. Their answers came in the form of this offering. The title of this album, End of My Days, comes from Errollyn Wallen’s song; a resounding celebration of life that embraces death without regret or sadness but with great verve and acceptance. The other songs, each in its own way, evoke silence and separation, but also love and hope and even the reassurance that we will return whence we came and light shall lift us into eternity. The concluding song, Deborah Pritchard’s Peace, is a message of hope, willingly received as the world emerged out of lockdown in 2021. Luminous tranquillity moves us into the light, towards eternity.

Ruby Hughes, soprano
Manchester Collective

anchester Collective
is a new kind of arts organisation, built for a fresh and diverse musical world. We create intimate and intense human experiences inspired by the music that we love, for everyone.

We are the true believers. We passionately believe in the power of music to move us and to excite us. It doesn't matter to us if you're a seasoned concert-goer, or if it's your first time. All are welcome.

From the concert hall to the factory, from the recital room to the mill, the only thing we ask of you is that you open your ears and let yourself listen. Really listen.

And in return, we will create something extraordinary.

Known for their experimental programming and daring collaborations, the work of Manchester Collective has expanded at breakneck speed since their formation in 2016. They now play in concert halls, gig venues and factory spaces across Europe and the UK, performing a combination of cutting edge contemporary music, classical masterpieces, and staged work to a hungry, new audience.

New music is of vital importance to the Collective – in recent years, they have commissioned major works by artists including Edmund Finnis, Hannah Peel, Lyra Pramuk, and Laurence Osborn. Highlights include their Royal Albert Hall debut as part of the 2021 BBC Proms Festival; the creation of Dark Days, Luminous Nights, a daring audio-visual installation made under lockdown with Blackhaine and Simon Buckley; and Sirocco, the international sensation featuring South African cellist Abel Selaocoe.

Booklet for End of My Days