The wonderful James McIlwrath played two of my pieces on air in March 2021. Brum Radio was the host of James’ first online AMOK; his platform for experimental music which has run concerts for the past couple of years. I have been lucky enough to perform in one live where I tried out some early improvised ideas for this material. That was in front of a real audience; before lockdown. My pieces - Base and Spot - are pieces which comment on Covid and the life we are leading as a result. Loops from everyday life are mixed with distorted viola improvisations and spoken snippets of text from two Shakespeare soliloquis. James programmed them amongst other pieces playing with the idea of an other-worldliness, a ghostly environment, and the overall result was a gripping hour of aural freedom. It was tonic to be able to go so far, whilst still be at home. Thank you for the opportunity, James!

Spot 2020 Remix for AMOK Radio Show 2021

Base 2020 Remix for AMOK Radio Show 2021

This is the premiere of my piece, 'Manifold' from the Late Music concert in March 2022. It is performed by Anna Snow and Kate Ledger. The concert within which it was premiered was '100 Second Songs'. The compositional brief was to write a song only 100 seconds in duration. I decided to use the idea of time running out to shape a piece centred on eco-anxiety in relation to raising children. Both Kate and Anna have young children, as do I. The idea that we may not see them grow up in a world that is habitable anymore was key.

Manifold - Anna Snow and Kate Ledger

Commission for Magdelen College School Sixth Form Choir for their Christmas Carol Concert, 2012. This is the recording from the 8pm performance in Magdalen College School Chapel.
Photo: a Tudor Rose I crocheted ...

There Is No Rose - Magdalen College School Sixth Form Choir

A commission for Juice Vocal Trio (Kerry Andrew, Sarah Dacey, Anna Snow) for the York Spring Festival 2004. Performed by the trio many times since and made it on to their debut album, 'Songspin'. Published, by the University of York Music Press, in the song book which accompanies the album! Album photography is my work.
Photo: Morag Galloway

Dream Of You - Juice Vocal Ensemble

A string trio written in 2002 and work-shopped by members of the Kreutzer Quartet in a session for the MMus Composition students at Goldsmiths. Piece is inspired by the book of the same title by Banana Yoshimoto.
Photo: Morag Galloway

Asleep - Kreutzer Quartet (Trio)

Written to accompany the art MA Presentation by Ceramicist and artist Karen Jeske. A response to her work; we spoke extensively about her process and I wove her ideas into this soundtrack. Her work for the MA was, in turn, a collaboration with Lucinda Morris (www.tincanvas.com.au). The photo here is the canvas they produced.

I Am A Flock Of Birds - Morag Galloway

Live world premiere of my piece for oboeist Des Clarke. Performed to a pre-recorded viola backing track (viola on detuned Bb) in the York St John's University lunchtime concert series, October 2017.
We are working on a more theatrical version of this. It will include me playing the viola part live.
Photo: Morag Galloway

She Moves Through The Fair

She Moved Through The Fair - Desmond Clarke

The live recording of the re-working of this piece for soprano Anna Snow. Included in her lunchtime concert for the York Late Music Series, 6th May 2017. We displayed a print of Karen Jeske's original canvas during the performance. Recorded by Lynette Quek.
Photo: Morag Galloway

I Am A Flock Of Birds (Live) - Anna Snow (Live)/Morag Galloway

This piece was written collaboratively with the pianist Kate Ledger for her Rymer Auditorium concert (University of York) 'Child's Play'. It explores many psychological and philosophical ideas, Buddist ideas, experiences of parenting, being a musician and balancing the two. It was premiered on Friday 11th November, 2016. We worked closely with Lynette Quek so she could produce this recording which focusses closely on all the mechanical sounds in the performance. Photo: Morag Galloway

What Does This Moment Require?

What Does This Moment Require? - Kate Ledger

A demo of our reimagining of this traditional folk song. Written collaboratively with Chris Waring. Photo credit: 'Sea-worn metal on Warkworth Beach' - Morag Galloway 2018.

Night Out

The Blacksmith - Demo

A setting of this Shakespeare sonnet written for a solo performance at a wedding ceremony and then adapted to this recorded and multi-tracked version for the KDC Theatre production of 'Much Ado About Nothing' in London. I am the vocalist and there is a solo version available in score form. Photo credit: 'Sunlight through the grasses' - Morag Galloway 2018.

Much Ado About Nothing

Sonnet 116

One of the many tracks I created for the York Shakespeare Project production of Henry IV Parts One and Two in 2010 at York's Stained Glass Centre in St Martin-cum-Gregory Church. Photo credit: 'Warkworth Castle' - Morag Galloway 2015.

Henry IV Part One

Gadshill - Henry IV Part One

The backing track to accompany 'I Long For Snow'; a piece written for, and with, juice vocal ensemble and performed in the Rymer Auditorium at York University Music Department in November 2015. The film of the piece can be found on my YouTube channel here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JaCAgp73Jo
Photo credit: Morag Galloway 2014 (Juice 'Love Songs' Album shoot).

I Long For Snow

I Long For Snow - Spacialisation Backing Track/Juice Vocal Ensemble

An example of the music I wrote for a KDC Theatre production of 'Equus' at the Baron's Court Theatre, London in 2005. It uses multiphonics and extreme register work from tuba player Richard Halliday. Photo credit: Morag Galloway 2007.

Equus - Cue 7: Act 1, Scene 13

An example of the music I wrote and played for a production of 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' by Martin McDonagh. Photo credit: Morag Galloway 2018.

The Cripple of Inishmaan

The Cripple of Inishmaan - Cue 6

A version of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' my husband made in 2011(?) for our annual 'Sonic Christmas Card'. Enjoy!

Chris Waring's Album

The 12 Days of Gingmas

A live version from the Late Music Concert in March 2020, just before lockdown! Performed by Merit Ariane.

The Moon - Merit Ariane and Friends

Composer, director, performer and photographer. Interested in people and how they shape my music. Pieces often have in common three specific starting points: a desire to communicate a personal experience; a desire to explore ideas encountered in key psychological texts (often read to make sense of the accompanying personal experience); and a desire to work with a specific performer/group of performers.

Morag Galloway

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