Cloudscape was commissioned by Sheffield Flute Choir and was first performed by them at the Classical Sheffield Weekend 2017. 

I am fascinated by the sound of the flute choir which can be equally sweet and brash, and is reminiscent of the flute sound on a fairground organ. In composing the piece, I chose to celebrate the sameness rather than trying to find differences between the instruments, and to treat the choir as one big instrument.

To achieve the effect of masking and clearing clouds, the flute choir is divided into three groups with four different parts in each. Each group has its own unique set of pitches which are often combined to create blocks of sustained chords that fade in and out. I wanted to capture the feeling of a drifting and evolving cloudscape.

This recording was made on Sunday 4th August 2019, performed by:

Cat Ellmore 
Catherine Whitehouse 
Fiona Robinson 
Helen Gibson 
Hisami Furuichi 
Laura Walmsley 
Laura Mella 
Marie Dowd 
Rachel Shirley 
Rebecca Davenport 
Rona Gurnhill 
Tom James

Cloudscape is published by Tetractys Publishing. Score & parts available to buy here: https://www.tetractys.co.uk/photo_16034453.html

Cloudscape (recording 04.08.19)

Cloudscape

Jenny Jackson is a composer based in Sheffield. She successfully completed a PhD in composition in 2009 having studied with Professor George Nicholson at the University of Sheffield. Subsequently, she formed Platform 4 - a composer collective - with Tom Owen, Chris Noble and Tom James and has forged a career as a composer, strongly influenced by a long-term interest in the visual and dramatic arts and the theatricality of musical performance. She has collaborated to produce multidisciplinary projects with visual artists, sculptors, writers and choreographers, often with Platform 4. Her work has been performed by Ensemble 360, Ligeti Quartet, Nieuw Ensemble, Philip Thomas, Opera on Location and Kathryn Williams.

I'm a composer and noise woman. this is where I upload recordings of my scores :~)
currently performing with Frogmeat &c, studying @ Te Kōkī NZ School of Music

Cloudscape

jennyjacksoncomposer