As part of their programme ‘The Music of Rome’ ORA Singers premièred Janet’s Terra Tremuit at LSO St Luke’s in London on 1st June. ORA are partway through the process of commissioning 100 choral composers each to write a reflection on a Renaissance piece, and Janet was asked to respond to Palestrina’s motet Terra Tremuit. In a pre-performance Q&A session with ORA’s Artistic Director and Founder, Suzi Digby OBE, Janet spoke about her focus on painting…
The video made during the NYCGB Training Choir Summer School in August has now been launched on the choir’s YouTube channel. Conductor Greg Beardsell and virtuoso percussionists O Duo worked with the young singers to perform and record Janet’s setting of words by John Taylor, exploring the infinite variety of what the human mind can do. Gramophone Magazine made it their Video of the Day on 16th October 2018. You can watch the video here. To…
Janet was delighted to be commissioned by the organisers of the inaugural LICCC to write the set test piece for the competition. The invitation presented a hugely exciting opportunity to set a wonderful new text by renowned librettist Euan Tait. The poem beautifully draws the parallel between the singer’s experience of choral music and our common human experience of life’s trajectory from beginning to end. A strong international field of six finalists will conduct the combined forces of chamber choirs Chantage, Coro and FREIA at…
Suzi Digby has formed professional choir ORA to commission and record 100 new pieces from the “new golden age of choral music”. Janet’s new setting of Terra Tremuit will partner the Palestrina original on the forthcoming CD.Photo Nick Rutter Janet Wheeler
As part of Granta Chorale’s concert O Radiant Dawn, Granta Chorale will give the premiere of By Thee I Will Abide. With a Psalm-based text, this begins with a troubled and anguished plea for mercy. Then at the resolution ‘By Thee I will Abide’ a soothing lullaby combines a repeating mantra-like accompaniment with weaving canonic lines over the top. Two canons then combine and gradually subside to a peaceful ending. First performance in Ely Cathedral…