Augusta Read Thomas, University Professor of Composition and the Director of the Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition, has released an album titled Bell Illuminations with Nimbus Records. This album centers around bells in instrumentation and in inspiration. Many UChicago performers are included on this album, including John Corkill, Lecturer and Director of the Percussion Ensemble, Joey Brink, University Carillonneur, and three UChicago students, Joseph Min, Emily Kim, and João Francisco Shida. The first piece on Bell Illuminations is "Crescat Scientia; Vita Excolatur: for carillon of 72 bells, four players - eight hands and two feet," which was premiered at the inauguration ceremony of President Paul Alivisotos on October 29, 2021. Watch the video of the world premiere below.
Bell Illuminations album details
Crescat Scientia; Vita Excolatur: for carillon of 72 bells, four players - eight hands and two feet (Live)
Joey Brink, with Joseph Min, Emily Kim and João Francisco Shida, carillonists
Upon Wings of Words (Emily Dickinson): soprano and string quartet
NEXUS Chamber Music: Co-Artistic Directors Brian Hong, violinist and Alexander Hersh, ‘cello, with Kristina Bachrach, soprano; Jordan Bak, viola; Benjamin Baker, violin
I. Playful, Buoyant and Spirited
II. Lyrical and Resonant
III. Energized and Animated
Bebop Riddle: for solo marimba
John Corkill, percussionist
Ring Out ,Wild Bells, To The Wild Sky (from Tennyson, In Memoriam): solo soprano, chorus, and orchestra (Live)
The Choral Arts Society of Washington; Carmen Pelton, soprano; Norman Scribner, conductor
Enchanted Invocation: solo vibraphone and five crotales
John Corkill, percussionist
Sonorous Earth: for bells from around the world (four players) and orchestra (Live)
Third Coast Percussion; Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra; Scott Speck, conductor
I. Invocation
II. Prayer
III. Mantra
IV. Reverie
Read more about this album release on the Ulysses Arts Blog.