New Voices is an award for emerging composers made by the Celtic Connections festival annually since 1998. It is a musical commission which enables recipients to compose and perform a significant new suite of music of about forty-five minutes, based on traditional themes. Usually there are three commissions each year, with each composer performing their work at a lunchtime concert on one of the three Sundays of the festival. The funding provides for the musician both to develop the work, and to direct its performance, typically by five to ten musicians, at its première. In the earlier years, the composer was invited to further develop the work and revisit it at the festival the next year, but this is no longer practised.
The selection process for the commissions is informal. Sometimes a musician may approach the festival with an idea for a new work, other times festival director Donald Shaw proposes participation to a musician he thinks would benefit and create something worthwhile.
Various sponsors have supported New Voices over the years. In 2020 the awards were sponsored by the Scottish edition of The Times and Sunday Times, and the composers were Marit Fält, Pàdruig Morrison and Catriona Price.
New Voices commissions All of the concerts were premières unless otherwise noted. yearcomposertitle of compositionnotes and references2023 2023 By Process of Folkmosis Halocline Out in the Flow 2022 Life in Three Dimensions Emergence 2021 2020 Irrationalities 2019 Beyond: The Story of an Irish Immigrant (Sun Moon Land Life Sea)First commissioned for the 2018 Blas Festival. 2018 Owerset Reprised at the 2020 festival. Seven Sorrows 2017 The Hammering Tongue Around this View Community and Stardust 2016 The River Released as a CD in 2016. Transitions Umbelliferae 2015 Crossing BordersLater released as a CD. Remembering The Great Eye Wilson performed as "Ella the Bird".2014 Woven Collisions ChangelingReleased as a CD later in 2014.2013 (Connected) Winter Stay Autumn2012 Infinite Reflections Reprised at the 2013 festival. Sleep Sound Breathe 2011 3G Reprised at the 2013 festival. Tramping The Glasgow Guitar Colloquium2010 Ceol Mor/Little Music String Theory Sanctuary 2009 The Call of the Wild Passing PlacesReleased as live CD, and also a DVD of a journey through Wester Ross in music and film.2008 Journeyman Flöe Bridging the Gap 2007 Astar: Journey Outside the Circle2006 First Sighting My Edinburgh & Paul Jennings JSP Voyager 2005 The Cremation of Sam McGee (The Ocean)2004 (A Woman's Song) Silver Lining2003 Kinship Theory Reprised at the 2004 festival. Sirius Reprised at the 2004 festival, and released as an album. 2002 Three Days 2001 Traditions (for saxophone quintet) Reprised at the 2002 festival. Daybreak on the World's Edge Reprised at the 2002 festival.
2000 Purely Whistles Lammermuir A live recording of this concert was released as a CD in 2002. The work was reprised at the 2020 festival. IcarusReprised at the 2001 festival. 1999 (North and South) Reprised at the millennial (2000) festival, together with a new work by Thorburn called Heartful of Friendship. Reprised again at the 2013 festival. JourneyingReprised at the millennial (2000) festival, together with a new work by Marshalsay, called Promise to Keep. The Stones and the SeaPerformed by the Cauld Blast Orchestra. Commissioned by An Tobar and the Highlands Festival, and premiered in May 1998 at the An Tobar Arts Centre, Isle of Mull.1998 Making the Connection Reprised at the millennial (2000) festival. Lifting the Lid Reprised at the millennial (2000) festival. Celtic Connections Suite First presented at Celtic Connections 1997 as a stand-alone commission. Also reprised at the millennial (2000) festival, together with a new work by Thoumire called Scottish Requiem.
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