She-Notes
A spotlight on female composers
The Isbourne Trio is passionate about discovering and commissioning new work for Soprano, Clarinet and Piano trio that will expand the repertoire for our imaginative combination.
Our innovative ‘She-Notes’ recording project shines a spotlight on six fascinating works for the ensemble by female composers. This is the foundation of the trio’s creative mission to further diversify the repertoire, generating exciting new work by composers of all genders to complement the historical masterpieces.
We selected music from around the globe, featuring living female composers alongside historical figures. In support of our pledge to work with the next generation of composers, the trio partnered closely with RWCMD student composer, Imi Oldham in recording the premiere of her work ‘Music When Soft Voices Die’.
The value of music in education is a strong motivational force for us as a trio. Moving forward, we will continue to nurture our musical partnership with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, whilst expanding our reach into schools and colleges to inspire the younger generation and celebrate the value of collaborative music-making and performance.
Dilys Elwyn-Edwards
Dilys Elwyn-Edwards was a Welsh-language composer, lecturer and accompanist. She spent much of her life in Caernarfon and her compositional output consists mainly of miniatures in the form of song, many of which are now considered classics of the Welsh song repertoire.
The ‘Three Songs’ are amongst her works which set English poetry to music and were published after her lifetime.
Three Songs, A Piper – Dilys Elwyn-Edwards
Three Songs, The Night – Dilys Elwyn-Edwards
Three Songs, Two Pewits – Dilys Elwyn-Edwards
Margaret Garwood
Margaret Garwood was an American composer best known for her operas. She also composed a variety of chamber pieces, including the Six Japanese Songs. The songs are based on text from a variety of different sources, including that of the haiku poets Basho and Shushiki.
Six Japanese Songs, Loneliness – Margaret Garwood
Six Japanese Songs, From “Essences” – Margaret Garwood
Six Japanese Songs, Iris – Margaret Garwood
Six Japanese Songs, Death Song – Margaret Garwood
Six Japanese Songs, Two White Butterflies – Margaret Garwood
Six Japanese Songs, Snow – Margaret Garwood
Lori Ardovino
Lori Ardovino is Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone at the University of Montevallo, USA and an active woodwind performer.
Her five characterful Nonsense Songs are inspired by the poetry of the British poet and painter, Edward Lear.
Nonsense Songs, There was an Old Man in a Tree – Lori Ardovino
Nonsense Songs, There was a Young Lady whose Chin – Lori Ardovino
Nonsense Songs, There was an Old Man with a Beard – Lori Ardovino
Nonsense Songs, There was an Old Man on a Hill – Lori Ardovino
Nonsense Songs, There was a Young Lady from Russia – Lori Ardovino
Sadie Harrison
Sadie Harrison is a British composer known for the socio-political aspects of music-making.
‘Akikase No’ translates as ‘No visitor comes’ and uses text from a collection of ‘wakas’ (31-syllable poems) written by geisha in the courts of Imperial Japan from the ninth to the thirteenth century. The poems draw on subtle images of nature to tell of the pain of unrequited or lost love.
Akikase No – Sadie Harrison
Dora Pejačević
Countess Maria Theodora Paulina “Dora” Pejačević was a Croatian composer, pianist and violinist. Despite being born into nobility, she was aware of her privileges and her later works reflect the turbulent war years and revolutionary changes of the 1920s through their musical expression.
‘Verwandlung’ (‘Preobrazba’ in Croatian) translates as ‘Transformation’ and was originally composed in 1915 for female voice, violin and organ.
Verwandlung – Dora Pejačević
Imi Oldham
Imi is an oboist and composer and composed her piece whilst studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
‘Music When Soft Voices Die’ was largely inspired by the poem of the same name by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Imi describes how she uses her music to paint the imagery set through the words, as well as taking time over the text and repeating certain phrases to allow the listener to reflect on the poem.
Music When Soft Voices Die – Imi Oldham
Project credits
The Isbourne Trio would like to thank the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff for their generous financial support towards this project.
Thanks go to our wonderful recording engineer: Niamh O’Donnell
For a comprehensive database of works by female composers you can visit www.coreliaproject.org