Joshua Adams – Landscape (2021)
Landscape is a setting of an English translation of Federico García Lorca's 'Paisaje' from 'Poema del cante jondo' (Poem of the Deep Song). This collection of Lorca's was dedicated to endorsing the aesthetic value of Andalusian folk music through all the elements of its poems. In Lorca's own words, 'the Poem [i.e. the collection] begins with a motionless sunset', which is this first poem, 'Paisaje'. Written in York, my setting reflects the slow pace of the words, the subtle melancholy it evokes, and the beautiful colours of his landscape. 

The field
of olive trees
opens and closes
like a fan.
Above the olive grove
a foundering sky
and a dark rain
of cold stars.
Bulrush and penumbra tremble
at the river's edge.
The gray air ripples.
The olive trees
are laden
with cries.
A flock
of captive birds
moving their long long
tails in the gloom.

– Federico García Lorca (1898-1936), translated by Cola Franzen.

This recording is from a live performance by The 24 at the University of York in their first concert of the 2021/22 academic year. 
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Performance: 
The 24, University of York, conducted by Robert Hollingworth
Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, November 2021.

Landscape

Landscape (2021)

Joshua Adams – Four Meditations on Marian Chant Themes (2017)
These short motets – Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven), Ave Regina Caelorum (Hail Heavenly Queen), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), and Sub Tuum Praesidium (Under Your Protection) –  are four-part harmonisations of Marian chant themes which are sung in the soprano line. The other three parts weave counterpoint around the ancient melody creating an oscillating contemporary choral texture. Each concludes with a coda, which (other than the Alleluia for the first in correspondence with the Easter season) is a traditional Amen.

This recording features an international lineup of singers consisting of the 2021/22 MA Solo Voice Ensemble at the University of York, 'Contact Polyphony', joined by other UoY students past and present. The recording venue is appropriately a St Mary's church, a medieval one at that, which was already established when these themes were first set in musical notation. 
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Recorded: 4th February 2022 - St Mary's Church, Bishophill Jr, York, UK.
Soprano: Immy Creedy (GB), Isabelle Palmer (GB), Sarah Keating (IE).
Alto: Ellie Stamp (GB), Rachel Singer (AU).
Tenor: James Wells (GB), Joshua Adams (AU).
Bass: Freddie Foster (GB), T.J. Callahan (US).

Sub Tuum Praesidium

Ave Maria (I)

Ave Regina Caelorum

Regina Caeli

Joshua Adams – Into the Woods Alone (2021)
After the work of Olga Cironis.

This piece was written for a project exploring ekphrasis at The Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery in Perth, Western Australia – Perth poet Caitlyn Stone responded to a visual art installation in an exhibition titled 'Dislocation' by Czech born (to Greek parents) Australian artist, Olga Cironis. I then responded to the artwork and set Caitlyn's poem to write this piece. Dramatic and expressive, it explores themes of isolation, melancholy, and despair.

Who goes there?
Who moves the trees?
What spirit walks in light, half-formed?
Speak; I shall be mute and kiss your feet. 

“Lie down again, you beast.”
“You beast”, I hear the two men say.

Dear arm, reach out, pull back, back, back
Before I fall in the black dirt, black.

Oh, lie down again, dear beast.
The mist and leaves
Cut straight across the chest.

I cross myself, head to breast.
Finite, vile, I lie. I take my rest.
Here in the woods.
Here in the woods, alone.

- Caitlyn Stone (2000).

This recording features an international lineup of singers consisting of the 2021/22 MA Solo Voice Ensemble at the University of York, 'Contact Polyphony', joined by other UoY students past and present.
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Recorded: 4th February 2022 - St Mary's Church, Bishophill Jr, York, UK.
Soprano: Immy Creedy (GBR), Isabelle Palmer (GBR), Sarah Keating (IRL).
Alto: Ellie Stamp (GBR), Rachel Singer (AUS).
Tenor: James Wells (GBR), Joshua Adams (AUS).
Bass: Freddie Foster (GBR), T.J. Callahan (USA).

Into the Woods Alone (2021)

Joshua Adams - Jesu Dulcis Memoria (2017)
Jesu Dulcis Memoria is an ancient Christian hymn with origins that can be traced back to at least the 12th century. This work weaves the original chant melody into varied textures of contemporary choral harmony.

This recording is a live performance by 'From the Top', a self-directed consort of singers from the National Youth Choir of Australia (NYCA) who assembled in Fremantle, Western Australia for Choralfest, 2019.
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Performance: 15th April 2019 - Wesley Uniting Church, Fremantle.
Soprano: Jade Hansen (WA), Rachel Singer (WA)
Alto: Gabrielle Scheggia (WA), Alex Ritter (VIC)
Tenor: Kieran Lynch (WA), Joshua Adams (WA)
Bass: Daniel Price (WA), Jack Stephens (SYD)

Jesu Dulcis Memoria

Jesu Dulcis Memoria (2017)

Joshua Adams - Three Eucharistic Motets (2019)
These three motets are settings of hymn texts by the influential theologian and writer, Thomas Aquinas. O Salutaris Hostia (O Saving Victim), Panis Angelicus (Bread Of Angels), and Tantum Ergo (Hence So Great A Sacrament) each pertain to the Eucharist - a central aspect of Christianity. The chant melodies of these texts are layered with other material (both derived from the tune and freely written) in a similar fashion to create linked, but unique modern textures - each uses predominately the same pitches, but with different use of modality producing different colours in the sound world.

These recordings are a dedicated effort for this release by some of my dear friends in the gently reverberant acoustic of the chapel at Trinity College, East Perth.
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Recorded: 3rd March 2020 - Trinity College Chapel, East Perth.
Soprano: Jade Hansen,  Bonnie de la Hunty
Alto: Gabrielle Scheggia, Lydia Gardiner
Tenor: Kieran Lynch, Jason Kroll
Bass: Rowan Swarbrick, Jonty Coy
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Director: Joshua Adams
Recording: Thomas Friberg

Tantum Ergo

Panis Angelicus

O Salutaris Hostia

Joshua Adams - Three Prayers (2019-20)
These three pieces are settings of central Christian prayers - Pater Noster (Our Father), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), and Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father). Each short motet musically combines clear, beautiful expression with subtle textual allusion. Pater Noster is the first of the Three Prayers - the shifting harmony implores changing emotion and sentiment in the text. Ave Maria is the second of the Three Prayers - a gentler, chant-style setting for the Marian text with a central moment of emotional release. Gloria Patri is the last of the Three Prayers - more tangible imagery in the texture leads to declamation and a vigorous conclusion expressing the textual finality of the prayer.

Recorded by The Giovanni Consort at St Mary's South Perth - The Anglican Parish of South Perth. Video of the recording is available on The Giovanni Consort's Facebook and YouTube pages.
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Recorded: 3rd August 2020 - St Mary's South Perth.
Soprano: Jade Hansen, Bonnie de la Hunty
Alto: Gabrielle Scheggia, Lydia Gardiner
Tenor: Kieran Lynch, Jason Kroll
Bass: Joshua Adams, Rowan Swarbrick, David Woods
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Recording: Thomas Friberg

Gloria Patri

Ave Maria (II)

Pater Noster

Australian composer and singer.
MA Music (SVES) at the University of York, UK.

Joshua Adams - Composer

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