News and Reviews

News: ViVA Oratorio Shortlisted for National Award
Nov 24 2009

An oratorio commissioned by East Midlands-based orchestra sinfonia ViVA for an exciting music project based in Derbyshire to celebrate the life of Bess of Hardwick has been shortlisted for a national award.

This piece, 'More Glass Than Wall', was part an innovative education project led by ViVA which involved schools from Derby City and Bolsover and is one of three original compositions shortlisted in the community and education category of the prestigious British Composer Awards.

'More Glass Than Wall' made its world premiere - commemorating the 400th anniversary of Bess of Hardwick's death - at Derby's Assembly Rooms in June 2008 with further performances at the Buxton Festival and Hardwick Hall. It was created by world-class composer James Redwood and Derbyshire's former poet laureate Cathy Grindrod and was performed by ViVA alongside choirs and instrumentalists from Springwood and Asterdale Junior Schools and West Park Community School in Spondon as well as children from Creswell Junior School, Hodthorpe Primary School and Heritage School in Bolsover.

Bess of Hardwick led a long and colourful life and became particularly famous for her building projects, especially Chatsworth, now the seat of her descendants the Duke of Devonshire, and Hardwick Hall with its extensive use of glass. She is interred in a vault in Derby Cathedral where there is a memorial to her.

Composer James Redwood, who has worked with ViVA on several previous education projects, explained: "Once Cathy Grindrod had written the text for the piece I started to compose the music. I took much of my inspiration for the music from a table in Hardwick Hall which was given to Elizabeth as a wedding present. Engraved on the top is a piece of music, which was composed by the English musician Thomas Tallis and conjures up the 16th century perfectly. I also used some rounds which were collected by Thomas Ravenscroft which Elizabeth herself might have performed for entertainment."

He added: "This was a fascinating project which was largely inspired by the young people's imagination and interest in such a colourful character from local history. Being nominated for this award is a huge honour and privilege. We are extremely lucky to have found an arena in which to make genuinely new and groundbreaking work, something which never ceases to amaze and excite me."

ViVA Chief Executive Peter Helps continued: "It is wonderful that ViVA's creative vision for the 'More Glass Than Wall' project has enabled James' inspirational composition to gain such prestigious national recognition. Of course, we hope that his work clinches the award but just to be shortlisted is fantastic in its own right and will help to reinforce ViVA's reputation as an Orchestra of national standing based here in the East Midlands."

The project was generously supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund, Rolls-Royce plc, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, Orchestras Live, Bolsover District Council, Derbyshire Community Foundation, Local Network Fund, Bridging the Gap, The National Trust, The Foyle Foundation, The Cumberland Trust, The Gladys Jones Charitable Trust, The Mercers Charitable Foundation, Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Settlement, The John Thaw Foundation, Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation, PRS Foundation for new music and Ernest Cook Trust

Well over 300 submissions were sent to BASCA for the British Composer Awards 2009 Awards which fete new works receiving their first UK performance between April 2008 and March 2009. Judging has been taking place during September and October by more than 60 music professionals – most of which are themselves composers – and the Awards ceremony will take place in London on December 1.

Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones - Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665 sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk