This project has been a real collaboration, a labour of love and a celebration of the very varied talents of Madrigirls!
Long ago, in the midst of Lockdown in 2021, we started to talk to composer Emily Hall about the possibility of a commission. We had no set theme or lyrics in mind, though we knew we wanted it to reflect Madrigirls as a group. In talking about it at rehearsals we found three subjects came up again and again: friendship and togetherness; the passing of time and the change that comes with it; and the importance of nature. All these had been very much on people's minds during the pandemic but also, coming out of it, were the things that stuck with them as important to hold on to going forward.
The lyrics for the pieces, so beautifully set by Emily, consist of two original poems and one translation, all by members of Madrigirls. With COVID restrictions for choirs still in place, a film project seemed like a good way forward to give the pieces a platform and so we commissioned Madrigirls member and filmmaker Jennie Scammell to create these three films for us. The audio - recorded in person as restrictions lifted - was edited by conductor Katy Lavinia Cooper and filming commenced in 2022. As part of the filming, bespoke linocut artwork was created to reflect the texts by Co-director Catriona Downie and printed by Madrigirls member and professional printmaker Rhian Nicholas.
All in all a real team effort - and a real reflection of the amazing group of people that Madrigirls is.
Long ago, in the midst of Lockdown in 2021, we started to talk to composer Emily Hall about the possibility of a commission. We had no set theme or lyrics in mind, though we knew we wanted it to reflect Madrigirls as a group. In talking about it at rehearsals we found three subjects came up again and again: friendship and togetherness; the passing of time and the change that comes with it; and the importance of nature. All these had been very much on people's minds during the pandemic but also, coming out of it, were the things that stuck with them as important to hold on to going forward.
The lyrics for the pieces, so beautifully set by Emily, consist of two original poems and one translation, all by members of Madrigirls. With COVID restrictions for choirs still in place, a film project seemed like a good way forward to give the pieces a platform and so we commissioned Madrigirls member and filmmaker Jennie Scammell to create these three films for us. The audio - recorded in person as restrictions lifted - was edited by conductor Katy Lavinia Cooper and filming commenced in 2022. As part of the filming, bespoke linocut artwork was created to reflect the texts by Co-director Catriona Downie and printed by Madrigirls member and professional printmaker Rhian Nicholas.
All in all a real team effort - and a real reflection of the amazing group of people that Madrigirls is.
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Composer Emily Hall
Lyricists Two Magpies - Madeleine Busby, Tack Together - Jennie Scammell
Critique of the Heart - Wilhelm Busch, tr. Judith Homann
Musical Director Katy Lavinia Cooper
Sound Engineer Alasdair Robertson
Sound Edited by Katy Lavinia Cooper
Artwork Catriona Downie, printed by hand by The Passenger Press
Filmed & Edited by Darren Hercher
Filmed, Produced & Directed by Jennie Scammell
Read the full lyrics and find out more about each of the pieces below...
Emily Hall is a composer, known first and foremost for her songwriting. Much of her music is formed from close creative relationships with singers, instrumentalists and writers and finding her own ways of using technology and live performance. She has written for the BBC Singers, Manchester Collective, London Sinfonietta, LSO, LCO, BBC NOW, the Brodsky Quartet, Opera North, LCO, Mahogany Opera, Hungarian Radio Choir, Aldeburgh Music, Streetwise Opera. Find out more on her website
"It’s been a real honour to write for Madrigirls and be a part of the creative process for this celebration of their 20 year anniversary through these collaborations. Perhaps strange to be composing from afar and without having met any of the Madrigirls in person yet - but also perhaps fitting given the themes of connection - the absence of during COVID (Tack Together) or the beauty of (Critique of the Heart) and the isolating lockdown times these were written in (Two Magpies). My favourite part of the films is in Two Magpies when the choir are doing shoulder rolls together, like a flock of birds, and singing there’s a place for closeness, closeness, there’s a place for closeness."
"It’s been a real honour to write for Madrigirls and be a part of the creative process for this celebration of their 20 year anniversary through these collaborations. Perhaps strange to be composing from afar and without having met any of the Madrigirls in person yet - but also perhaps fitting given the themes of connection - the absence of during COVID (Tack Together) or the beauty of (Critique of the Heart) and the isolating lockdown times these were written in (Two Magpies). My favourite part of the films is in Two Magpies when the choir are doing shoulder rolls together, like a flock of birds, and singing there’s a place for closeness, closeness, there’s a place for closeness."
Jennie Scammell is a BAFTA-Scotland-nominated documentary filmmaker pursuing her passion for intimate, observational, human-interest films. She is a long-standing member of Madrigirls, having joined while studying for a doctorate in English at the University of Glasgow. As a proud member of the group for almost two decades, Jennie was delighted to be commissioned to film this project, and to have the opportunity to showcase the creativity and camaraderie on which she and many others have thrived. You can contact Jennie on Instagram @vitalspark or via our Contact page.
The artwork featured in our films was another inhouse collaboration. The linocuts were created by Madrigirls Co-director Catriona Downie and letter-press printed by Rhian Nicholas of The Passenger Press.
The final design is made up of three separate elements, each reflecting something in one of the texts - Madeleine's two magpies, Jennie's 'buzz and flitter' and Judith's 'cool and eerie wave'. Each block was cut individually by Catriona, and brought together as one by Rhian who, alongside singing with Madrigirls, is a printmaker extraordinaire. You can find out more about her beautiful prints and cards at thepassengerpress.com Limited edition prints of the full design are now available to buy now! |