Somerville is delighted that the new album composed by Christopher Churcher and performed by Somerville College Choir has been selected as Georgia Mann’s Essential Classics Album of the Week on Radio 3.
Moonrise was released on Friday, launched at Somerville’s Choral Contemplation on Sunday, and announced as the Essential Classics Album of the Week on Monday morning. Every morning this week, a track from Moonrise will be played on Radio 3 at 10.30am – we recommend listening in, to experience the range of this fantastic album by one of the UK’s most exciting young composers.
The album cover for Moonrise
The new album presents the choral music of award-winning composer Christopher Churcher, performed by Somerville College Choir, and conducted by Director of Chapel Music, Will Dawes. Christopher, who is a Music finalist at LMH, was previously a Somerville College Choir member, and much of Moonrise was composed specifically for the Choir. The compositions reflect this close relationship, brought together by Christopher’s distinctive “shimmering” harmonic language (The Scotsman).
Speaking after the selection of Moonrise as Essential Classics Album of the Week, Christopher said, “This all feels so surreal to me. Opportunities like this so rarely come to composers at my age, so I’m incredibly grateful to Will and the Choir for giving my music this wonderful platform and introducing it to a new audience.”
At the heart of the album are the Pride Motets, commissioned for Somerville College’s LGBTQ+ Pride services. These powerful works explore LGBTQ+ identity and belonging, reflecting on Christopher’s own experience as a queer composer. The album brings together both sacred and secular music, from music for Christmas to introspective, secular works inspired by the natural world.
Christopher Churcher
Will Dawes commented, “I’m thrilled that Georgia Mann has chosen Moonrise to be Album of the Week on BBCR3’s Essential classics. The quality of the music and performances presented on the album are completely first-rate and for it to be featuring on the UK’s premier classical radio station every day this week is wonderful news. It provides a brilliant opportunity for Christopher’s music to be heard by a staggering number of people, and also reinforces popular opinion that the College Choir is making recordings of a fundamentally high quality”.
Moonrise can be listened to in full on Spotify or other services via this link. Copies of the CD can also be purchased from Somerville’s lodge. We hope you enjoy listening!