Twisted Skyscape Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble & Shea Lolin

• Philip Sparke (b. 1951): Overture for Woodwinds:
• 1Sparke: Overture for Woodwinds06:08
• Gary Carpenter (b. 1951): Pantomime:
• 2Carpenter: Pantomime: I. Prologue02:48
• 3Carpenter: Pantomime: II. Cavatina and Polka02:51
• 4Carpenter: Pantomime: III. Dream Calypso and Farewell04:30
• 5Carpenter: Pantomime: IV. Grand March (Of the Chief Executive)03:38
• 6Carpenter: Pantomime: V. Waltz - Finale (Depravity)03:28
• Christopher Hussey (1899 - 1970): Dreamtide:
• 7Hussey: Dreamtide: I. Twilight's Haze03:34
• 8Hussey: Dreamtide: II. Wild Reality05:13
• 9Hussey: Dreamtide: III. A Dream Within a Dream06:27
• Adam Gorb (b. 1958):
• 10Gorb: Battle Symphony: I. Flourish – II. Courtly Dance – III. Flourish (Reprise)03:06
• 11Gorb: Battle Symphony: IV. Sword Fighting Practice – V. Soldiers’ Drunken Panic - VI. Preparation for Battle - VII. The Battle03:35
• 12Gorb: Battle Symphony: VIII. Lament for the Dead – IX. Triumphal Dance – X. Flourish (Reprise)03:44
• Christopher Hussey: Twisted Skyscape:
• 13Hussey: Twisted Skyscape: I. A Natural World03:49
• 14Hussey: Twisted Skyscape: II. The Human Footprint05:40
• 15Hussey: Twisted Skyscape: III. Nature's Conquest04:42
• Total Runtime01:03:13

Info for Twisted Skyscape

Twisted Skyscape is a unique classical music album - the first of its kind - devoted entirely to new music written for the woodwind orchestra. It has been recorded with the outstanding playing from the woodwind section of the Czech Philharmonic. Brilliant showcase of contemporary British music for woodwind orchestra from a Czech ensemble.

The album is a premiere recording of a woodwind orchestra making it a completely new and unique concept. It has a highly adaptable and magical tonal palette - it can be, in turn, boldly vibrant and delicately beautiful, thrillingly powerful and hauntingly tender, earnestly solemn and joyously comical.

In March 2014, the principal woodwind players from one of the world's leading orchestras, the Czech Philharmonic, recorded an exciting and unique classical music album—the first of its kind—devoted entirely to new music written for the woodwind orchestra.

Featuring music especially written for the woodwind orchestra by living British composers, Twisted Skyscape showcases an unfamiliar, unusual and kaleidoscopic soundworld created by flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons and saxophones—an instrumental line-up that many music lovers will be encountering for the very first time!

The ambition of the album's conductor Shea Lolin and composer/producer Christopher Hussey is to introduce new audiences to the power of the medium, and being the first recording dedicated to contemporary woodwind music, it is a much-needed disc, giving a voice to both the genre and some fantastic pieces.

Its variety is captured here in an enjoyable and powerful selection of five accessible modern concert works, four of which have never been released before, by composers Philip Sparke (Overture for Woodwinds), Adam Gorb (Battle Symphony), Gary Carpenter (Pantomime) and Christopher Hussey (Twisted Skyscape, Dreamtide).

“This album will allow you to explore some fascinating British music... Highly recommended.” — COLCHESTER GAZETTE

“A fantastic way to delve into the colourful world of the woodwind orchestra, with music which is varied but always approachable.” — CLASSICAL MUSIC MAGAZINE

Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble
Shea Lolin, conductor

Shea Lolin
I studied a classical music degree at Colchester Institute in the early noughties and have worked in almost every area of the classical music industry from performing and conducting to managing and consulting several organisations and companies.

With wind music taking centre stage, highlights over the last 20 years include working with the regeneration of east London in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games, setting up and running several orchestras and recording in the UK and in Europe. I’ve worked with several cross-discipline musicians for hundreds of projects big and small, whilst commissioning some of the best contemporary composers to write new works for various combinations of instruments.

Working in Czechia on recording projects with the Czech Philharmonic and Janacek Philharmonic has led to recording partnerships. This work has been recognised by the Czech Centre in London and I’ll be presenting a launch event as part of the 2024 Year of Music.

My publication The Complete Wind Music of Gustav Theodore Holst evolved out of an exhibition I curated in 2012 at Morley College, London.

Being a resourceful freelancer, I’ve have always incorporated audio and visual media into the projects I’ve been involved with. This began to grow in recent years fuelled by social changes culminating in a surge in demand as the global pandemic took hold. Very recently I’ve undertaken aerial imaging work in Chernobyl, a production with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic along with the British composer Dr Martin Ellerby, produced an album of wind orchestra music with the Pro Arte Wind Symphony with Keiron Anderson, and several live and recorded projects with Paul Bambrough and the Purcell School. Some of this work has opened the door to larger commercial projects.

Booklet for Twisted Skyscape