Philip Lancaster; Sally Beamish - Winter Trees (James Gilchrist; Philippa Mo; Jelena Makarova)

Information

Composer: Philip Lancaster; Sally Beamish

• Lancaster - Fallen
• Beamish - Sonata for Violin and Piano 'Winter Trees'
• Lancaster - Encroaching Shadows
• Beamish - Three Winter Songs
• Lancaster - Echo
• Beamish - Piano Sonata

James Gilchrist, tenor

Philippa Mo, violin

Jelena Makarova, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Resonus Classics

_____________________

Combining premier recordings of early works by leading British composer Sally Beamish with the debut release of music by Philip Lancaster, this album explores the intricate interplay between poetry and music centered on themes of winter, trees, and shadows. Performed by tenor James Gilchrist, violinist Philippa Mo, and pianist Jelena Makarova, the program draws inspiration from literary figures including Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, and Ursula Vaughan Williams. Featuring songs for voice and violin alongside instrumental chamber works for violin and piano, the collection navigates the dialogue between verse, structure, and abstraction.

Born in London in 1956, composer and viola player Sally Beamish initially performed with prominent ensembles before relocating to Scotland in 1990 to focus on composition. Her highly decorated career includes fellowships with the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Swedish Academy, an OBE, and the 2025 Walter Wilson Cobbett Medal. Renowned for her chamber music, major oratorios, and concertos written for world-class soloists, Beamish's recent works have been championed globally by premier orchestras. Having returned to performing in 2015 on a viola crafted by her daughter, she currently resides in England, actively performing and serving as Composer in Residence at the Yehudi Menuhin School.

Philip Lancaster is an emerging British composer of vocal, choral, chamber, and instrumental works, recognized for his distinctive "rewilded tonality" and expressive counterpoint. Strongly influenced by his work in poetry, he frequently collaborates with poets such as John Greening and Euan Tait, integrating verse directly into his creative process. Lancaster’s compositions have been widely performed across the UK, featuring prominent premieres at the Three Choirs Festival (War Passion) and the Ludlow English Song Weekend (Fallen). Published by Stainer & Bell and The Maker’s Press, his music and orchestrations have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, with his debut recording released by Resonus Classics.