Description

Astrid Williamson – Requiem & Gallipoli

Out on CD and vinyl.

Astrid Williamson released classical album Requiem & Gallipoli on Christmas Day 2015 – her first large-scale classical composition. She first performed Requiem & Gallipoli at Hessle All Saints’ Church in June as part of a D-Day remembrance event raising funds for a local Hull veteran’s charity and also to raise awareness for Operation Warrior Wellness, a process to address post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans by using transcendental meditation, in collaboration with the David Lynch Foundation (a charitable donation from the album’s proceeds will also be made).

Studying composition and piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, including a stint under composer Judith Weir, Astrid had long-harboured an ambition to create a large-scale classical piece (indeed Sanctus, included here, was written 10 years ago) but had never found the opportunity or funds to dedicate time to complete it. “Since [previous band] Goya Dress days I always enjoyed writing string and orchestral arrangements – The Brodsky Quartet played on [debut album] Rooms – but I had never attempted a full orchestral arrangement.”

Tracklist:
1. Requiem
2. Kyrie
3. Domine Jesu
4. Hostias
5. Sanctus
6. Agnus Dei
7. Libera Me
8. In Paradisium
9. Gallipoli