The 19th of September is the release date for Songs of Ourselves - the debut album from London's queer classical chamber choir The Fourth Choir.
In recording Songs of Ourselves, the choir and Musical Director Jamie Powe sought to include a diverse range of music that hadn't been previously recorded and that came from texts and composers that represented a breadth of underrepresented voices in the classical musical world that resonated with the experience of singers in the choir.
The result includes everything from Renaissance works by forgotten Italian nuns setting erotic love poems; two commissions by the choir from contemporary queer composers setting poetry by Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson (both American poets who explored gender and sexual identity); a feminist anthem stitching together quotes from the Brontë sisters by Indian-American composer Shruthi Rajasekar; settings of poetry smuggled secretly out of an Iranian prison and works by up and coming queer composers Derri Joseph Lewis and Cooper Baldwin exploring themes of nature, our environment and the urgency of the climate crisis.
Join us at London's iconic queer performance space the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for a launch celebration, including a short performance of works from the album and insights into its creation from those involved.
The album is available for pre-order (or to add to your digital playlist) from here. CDs will also be available for purchase on the evening.
This will be a mixed standing/seating event, with only limited seats: first come, first served.
Attendees with accessibility requirements (such as reserving wheelchair space) please email dave@vauxhalltavern.com in advance.
All bags and coats must be checked into the cloakroom.