Dance of the Night Sky Black Oak Ensemble

• Shirley J. Thompson (b. 1958): Dance of the Night Sky:
• 1 Thompson: Dance of the Night Sky 07:17
• Judith Weir (b. 1954):The Bagpiper's String Trio:
• 2 Weir: The Bagpiper's String Trio: I. Salute 02:41
• 3 Weir: The Bagpiper's String Trio: II. Nocturne 01:38
• 4 Weir: The Bagpiper's String Trio: III. Lament, over the sea 03:07
• Dobrinka Tabakova (b. 1980): Insight:
• 5 Tabakova: Insight 10:16
• Carol J Jones (b. 1993): bulawayo railway:
• 6 Jones: bulawayo railway 03:45
• Freya Waley-Cohen (b. 1989): Conjure
• 7 Waley-Cohen: Conjure 13:10
• Sally Beamish (b. 1956): The King's Alchemist:
• 8 Beamish: The King's Alchemist: I. Cantus 03:27
• 9 Beamish: The King's Alchemist: II. Aqua Vitae 02:10
• 10 Beamish: The King's Alchemist: III. Pavana 03:14
• 11 Beamish: The King's Alchemist: IV. Avis Hominis 02:42
• Grace-Evangeline Mason (b. 1994): Into the Abyss, I Throw Roses:
• 12 Mason: Into the Abyss, I Throw Roses 08:02
• Errollyn Wallen (b. 1958): Making Hay:
• 13 Wallen: Making Hay 08:19
• Total Runtime 01:09:48

Info for Dance of the Night Sky

Dance of the Night Sky, Black Oak Ensemble‘s third album for Cedille, expands the boundaries of string trio repertoire by offering listeners a vibrant collection of contemporary works including four world-premiere recordings, all by British women composers.

Comprised of violinist, Desirée Ruhstrat violist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, and cellist David Cunliffe, the Black Oak Ensemble has been praised for its “insightful, committed and masterful performances” (ClassicsToday) and “fierce eloquence” (London Times).

The album opens with the world premiere recording of Shirley J. Thompson’s Dance of the Night Sky, written for Black Oak Ensemble and premiered at the 2024 Cedille Soirée gala, showcasing the composer’s distinctive style, which has also marked historic occasions including Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee.

The concept for the album was borne from an accidental Google search for “soccer” and “British composers,” leading to the discovery of Thompson’s Concerto for Football and Orchestra. This sparked a deeper exploration of string trios by British women and the idea to highlight the eight composers on the album, each bringing a unique voice to the string trio repertoire.

With vivid musical imagery ranging from a steam train station in Zimbabwe in Carol J. Jones’ bulawayo railway to the enigmatic poetry of Friedrich Nietzsche in Grace-Evangeline Mason’s Into The Abyss, I Throw Roses—both world premiere recordings — the album showcases a multigenerational array of commissions.

Sally Beamish’s The King’s Alchemist comprises four variations on the French folksong “L’Homme Armé” while exploring the story of John Damian, a European alchemist at the court of Scottish King James IV who donned wings to fly to France from Scotland’s Stirling Castle (he didn’t make it).

Dobrinka Tabakova’s Insight blends the voices of the string trio into a singular sound, evoking instruments such as the accordion and a brass fanfare.

Recently appointed Master of the King’s Music, Errollyn Wallen is one of the 20 most-performed living composers. Making Hay, in its world-premiere recording, takes her arrangement of J.S. Bach’s Prelude in E major from Book 1 of The Well Tempered Clavier and transforms it into a virtuosic showpiece for string trio.

The Black Oak Ensemble is on a mission: to expand and promote the repertory of new and exciting music for string trio. In this, their third album, the group has continued to develop and nurture the genre, exploring the music of today by commissioning two new works and presenting pieces by eight contemporary composers, four receiving their world premiere recordings. Dance of the Night Sky is a compendium of music by British women composers, each of whom writes in a unique voice while sharing a sense of British elegance and adventure. Independently of one another, the works call up otherworldly images and a persuasive ethereality, reflecting ancient times and faraway places. These compositions exploit the intricate balance among three virtuosic instrumental voices; in the words of featured composer Shirley Thompson, each “taking a turn leading the dance.” The Black Oak Ensemble continues to further the legacy of the string trio medium and share its deep passion for this incredible music. ...

Black Oak Ensemble

Black Oak Ensemble
Praised by the Chicago Tribune for its "flamboyant vitality" and "expert performances,” the Black Oak Ensemble is establishing itself as one of the premier chamber ensembles in the United States.

The Black Oak Ensemble comprises GRAMMY - nominated violinist Desirée Ruhstrat and cellist David Cunliffe of the acclaimed Lincoln Trio and violist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, a founding member of the ground-breaking Grammy-nominated Spektral Quartet.

The Black Oak Ensemble has performed throughout the United States and Europe, including appearances at the Ravinia Festival, Chicago Cultural Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Latino Music Festival, Mayne Stage, WFMT, Grand Rapids Museum of Art, Communauté Juive de Nancy, and Le Festival du film Juif de Paris, and has held residencies at Eau Claire University, St. John's School for the Arts (USVI), Arizona State University, New Music Ensemble and Safford Arizona.

The project-based Black Oak Ensemble presents exciting programs from Bach to the music of today and has collaborated with musicians such as bandoneon player, Evan Orman, guitarists Goran Ivanovic and Jose Ferreira, harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, members of Eighth BlackBird and the Cavatina Duo.

A passionate advocate of undiscovered and new works it has commissioned and premiered new string trios from renowned composers such as Michael Nyman, David Ludwig, and Conrad Tao.

This season, the ensemble’s debut album, SILENCED VOICES―a deeply personal program dedicated to mid-20th Century Jewish composers, most of whom lost their lives during the Holocaust―will be released on Cedille Records. The ensemble will perform its Silenced Voices program throughout Europe, including appearances in Athens, Geneva, Grenoble, Lyon, Paris, Prague, Vittel, and Yverdon, and give a special performance at the Everlasting Hope International Music Festival in Terezin in August 2019.

Dedicated educators, the members of the ensemble have put down roots in the south of France, creating Musique Dans Le Gers, a music festival that provides an opportunity to work with young artists and share their experiences and music with the community.

The Black Oak Ensemble currently serves as Ensemble-in-Residence at the New Music School in Chicago.

The ensemble is named for the black oak, a beautiful tree native to its home state of Illinois (one stands in the front yard of Desirée Ruhstrat and David Cunliffe’s house)

This album contains no booklet.