At the Speed of Stillness, commissioned by Aldeburgh World Orchestra, explores paradoxes of energy and movement: 'the hummingbird motionless as a star' (in Dora Maar's description), or the contained energy of a power station. Caught in Treetops, a violin concerto written for Alexandra Wood and BCMG, takes its inspiration from two poems by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Federico García Lorca, while also drawing on the relentless energy of Sonny Rollins.

Two song-cycles make explicit Bray's close relationship with poetry: Fire Burning in Snow sets three poems by Nicki Jackowska exploring desire, obsession and loss - also the subject of Songs from 'Yellow Leaves', a sequence of haikus based on Shakespeare's sonnets. The album is completed by the energetic piano quartet Replay, and Oneiroi, a dark study for piano.

Aldeburgh World Orchestra
Sir Mark Elder conductor
Lucy Schaufer mezzo-soprano
Alexandra Wood violin
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
Huw Watkins piano
Oliver Knussen conductor
Claire Booth soprano
Andrew Matthews-Owen piano

THE SUNDAY TIMES, TOP 100 BEST ALBUMS OF 2014
BEST NEW MUSIC RECORDING 2014 (Voix Des Arts)

‘A sharp ear and a vigorous imagination … the music’s inventiveness and textural control are unmistakable.’ The Sunday Times

'Charlotte Bray is now at the forefront of younger British composers … her future development can only be followed with the greatest interest’ Gramophone

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NMC Recordings is an award-winning record label with charitable status. They believe that new music is a dynamic and engaging art-form and seek to inspire and challenge audiences.