The work, specially written by Muriel Gray and Jamie Sansbury will be recorded in the Mackintosh Library later this month.
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| One of the three “Tall Windows” that bring light into the Mackintosh Library |
The Glasgow School of Art Choir
will be recording a brand new choral work, written about the Mackintosh
Building, in the Mackintosh Library in June 2016. The piece, entitled “Light
Through Tall Windows” was written as a response to the fire which partially
damaged the Mackintosh Building in 2014, and is a collaboration between two GSA
alumni: writer and broadcaster, Muriel Gray (lyricist), and Jamie Sansbury,
founder and Musical Director of the GSA Choir (composer).
will be recording a brand new choral work, written about the Mackintosh
Building, in the Mackintosh Library in June 2016. The piece, entitled “Light
Through Tall Windows” was written as a response to the fire which partially
damaged the Mackintosh Building in 2014, and is a collaboration between two GSA
alumni: writer and broadcaster, Muriel Gray (lyricist), and Jamie Sansbury,
founder and Musical Director of the GSA Choir (composer).
The work will be released as a
CD single in early 2017 and will be sold to raise money for The Mackintosh
Campus Appeal. It is available to pre-order now from the choir website www.gsachoir.com as a
physical compact disc and as an mp3 download.
CD single in early 2017 and will be sold to raise money for The Mackintosh
Campus Appeal. It is available to pre-order now from the choir website www.gsachoir.com as a
physical compact disc and as an mp3 download.
“The fire in 2014 was an emotional and traumatic event, not just for the
School, but for its students and alumni,” says Musical Director, Jamie
Sansbury. “If you haven’t studied or worked
here it is hard to understand that the Mackintosh Building is so much more than
just walls, a roof and windows. The ‘Mack’ was, and always will be, the heart
of the GSA…something we all love and of which we are enormously proud. This
piece is an attempt to set down, in a more tangible way, the joy the building
instils in students and staff at the School, the enduring enlightenment it
represents, and the impact that has upon them for the rest of their lives. The
work is dedicated to the staff, students and alumni of the GSA.”
School, but for its students and alumni,” says Musical Director, Jamie
Sansbury. “If you haven’t studied or worked
here it is hard to understand that the Mackintosh Building is so much more than
just walls, a roof and windows. The ‘Mack’ was, and always will be, the heart
of the GSA…something we all love and of which we are enormously proud. This
piece is an attempt to set down, in a more tangible way, the joy the building
instils in students and staff at the School, the enduring enlightenment it
represents, and the impact that has upon them for the rest of their lives. The
work is dedicated to the staff, students and alumni of the GSA.”
“This project has evolved as it’s progressed,” says Jamie Sansbury.
“When we completed the piece we knew that
we wanted the choir to premiere the work, and we hoped that it would be an
important creative response to the fire, but it was only much later that the
possibility of recording in the library itself – the very heart of the building
– came about, and the idea of releasing a CD was suggested. By recording in the
library in its damaged state, we hope that some of the sounds of the city will
be audible in the background of the finished recording: the irony of course is
that although the piece is called “Light Through Tall Windows” there aren’t any
windows in the library just now.”
“When we completed the piece we knew that
we wanted the choir to premiere the work, and we hoped that it would be an
important creative response to the fire, but it was only much later that the
possibility of recording in the library itself – the very heart of the building
– came about, and the idea of releasing a CD was suggested. By recording in the
library in its damaged state, we hope that some of the sounds of the city will
be audible in the background of the finished recording: the irony of course is
that although the piece is called “Light Through Tall Windows” there aren’t any
windows in the library just now.”
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| GSA Chair and choir member, Muriel Gray, has written the lyrics for the new work. |
“I first joined the GSA Choir when rehearsals were held each week in the
stunning Mackintosh lecture theatre (the very place where, as a student, I used
to shift uncomfortably during lectures.)” says Muriel Gray. “We took it for granted that we could make
music as well as art in that lovely space below the library, and that we would
always be able to do so. The devastation of the fire left us reeling in shock.
Like most people that the GSA had fostered, the choir’s response was to try and
create something positive out of it.”
stunning Mackintosh lecture theatre (the very place where, as a student, I used
to shift uncomfortably during lectures.)” says Muriel Gray. “We took it for granted that we could make
music as well as art in that lovely space below the library, and that we would
always be able to do so. The devastation of the fire left us reeling in shock.
Like most people that the GSA had fostered, the choir’s response was to try and
create something positive out of it.”
“Together Jamie and I wrote a short piece for the choir to perform that
would remind us about the gift Mackintosh had given all of us. Jamie’s score was
beautiful so we all agreed that recording and selling copies would be a hugely
appropriate way for us to contribute to the fund-raising appeal for our beloved
building.”
would remind us about the gift Mackintosh had given all of us. Jamie’s score was
beautiful so we all agreed that recording and selling copies would be a hugely
appropriate way for us to contribute to the fund-raising appeal for our beloved
building.”
“That we’ve been granted permission to record it in the library itself
is thrilling and daunting in equal measure, and it’s something that each and
every choir member will never forget.”
is thrilling and daunting in equal measure, and it’s something that each and
every choir member will never forget.”
For further information on the GSA choir
visit www.gsachoir.com
visit www.gsachoir.com
Ends
For further information on the GSA Choir contact:
Kate Hollands on 0141 566 1446 / k.hollands@gsa.ac.uk
For further information on the GSA/ the Mackintosh Building and the
Mackintosh Campus Appeal contact:
Mackintosh Campus Appeal contact:
Lesley Booth, 0779 941 4474 / press@gsa.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
· The GSA Choir
The Glasgow School
of Art Choir was formed in January 2012 by Jamie Sansbury, at that time a third year architecture
student, to provide somewhere for people at the GSA to come together and perform. The ensemble has
quickly gained a reputation for outstanding musical discipline and is committed
to expanding its repertoire and the musicianship of its members. The choir is non-auditioned
and comprises 65 members including past and present staff and students of the
School.
of Art Choir was formed in January 2012 by Jamie Sansbury, at that time a third year architecture
student, to provide somewhere for people at the GSA to come together and perform. The ensemble has
quickly gained a reputation for outstanding musical discipline and is committed
to expanding its repertoire and the musicianship of its members. The choir is non-auditioned
and comprises 65 members including past and present staff and students of the
School.
In addition to
performances twice a year, as part of The Glasgow School of Art Concerts Series, the choir has
performed at numerous other GSA events – including Sauchieholiday, Degree Show 2012 and numerous Burns Suppers – as well as the EAIE 2015 Conference, and the opening
and closing events of the ELIA 2014 Conference as part
of a joint choir alongside students from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
performances twice a year, as part of The Glasgow School of Art Concerts Series, the choir has
performed at numerous other GSA events – including Sauchieholiday, Degree Show 2012 and numerous Burns Suppers – as well as the EAIE 2015 Conference, and the opening
and closing events of the ELIA 2014 Conference as part
of a joint choir alongside students from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
In April 2014 the
choir performed the World Premiere of “Making It New” at the official opening of the Reid Building at
the GSA. The piece was commissioned by the choir especially
for the event, with funding from Creative Scotland
and The Glasgow School of Art. The piece was composed by Ken Johnston with
lyrics by the then Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead.
choir performed the World Premiere of “Making It New” at the official opening of the Reid Building at
the GSA. The piece was commissioned by the choir especially
for the event, with funding from Creative Scotland
and The Glasgow School of Art. The piece was composed by Ken Johnston with
lyrics by the then Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead.
The choir has also
recorded the backing-vocals for Glasgow-based, singer-songwriter, Raymond Meade’s album, ‘Whydolise?’, performing on the
final track, ‘Shine a Light on Me’. The album was released in 2015.
recorded the backing-vocals for Glasgow-based, singer-songwriter, Raymond Meade’s album, ‘Whydolise?’, performing on the
final track, ‘Shine a Light on Me’. The album was released in 2015.
In 2019 the choir
will be performing a specially commissioned choral work by renowned composer
Sir James MacMillan, CBE, which will be premiered in the Mackintosh Building as
part of the re-opening celebrations once the building has been restored,
following the devastating fire in May 2014. The project has been made possible
with the help of funding from Creative Scotland and The Glasgow School of Art.
will be performing a specially commissioned choral work by renowned composer
Sir James MacMillan, CBE, which will be premiered in the Mackintosh Building as
part of the re-opening celebrations once the building has been restored,
following the devastating fire in May 2014. The project has been made possible
with the help of funding from Creative Scotland and The Glasgow School of Art.
· The piece
will be recorded and produced by Jud Mahoney.
will be recorded and produced by Jud Mahoney.