Only Breath: new choral music from Wales

The Contemporary Music Group have recorded and released their first album, featuring works by 13 living Welsh composers.

Launched at the School of Music on the 4^th of December, Only Breath is has been released by Ty Cerdd Records and presents a snapshot of the breadth of creative musical activity in Wales today.

Featuring contemporary choral music by Welsh born or based composers, the album features pieces by a number of School of Music Alumni including Max Charles Davies, Sarah Lianne Lewis, Gareth Churchill and Eloise Gynn.

The album was recorded in St Augustine’s Church, Penarth this summer, with students spending a week rehearsing and performing in the church, culminating in a public performance on Saturday 23 June.

Speaking of the recording, Dr Robert Fokkens, director of the Contemporary Music Group said: “The Contemporary Music Group at Cardiff University is committed to performing music by living composers, and has been exploring works by Welsh composers for a number of years. There is a wealth of compositional talent in Wales, and increasingly we are seeing this talent being supported and nurtured - I hope that this project contributes to raising the profile of contemporary music in Wales.

“It is vital that young musicians like the students in the Contemporary Music Group get to explore music by composers who are writing today and are able to come to rehearsals and engage with them, as it provides the next generation with strong role models and builds the sense of community which is so vital to the future of any creative work.”