Heaven to Earth is a collection of tuneful, singable, sacred choral pieces by the best-selling RSCM composer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. Joanna began her musical life as a chorister in her local parish church choir and although she became a professional soprano, singing with ensembles including The Swingles, Tenebrae and London Voices, it was parish church choirs she had in mind when writing the music for this album. The pieces sit comfortably within the vocal ranges of the singers, the organ accompaniments are designed to support the choir, there is minimal divisi, and the harmonies are attractive and approachable. Above all, the settings are written with the intention of enhancing the meaning of the words, both for those who sing them and for those who hear them.
Joanna Forbes L’Estrange is a multifaceted musician who performs, composes, records, directs and produces music in a wide variety of genres. Her career began with seven years as soprano and Musical Director of the five-time Grammy® award-winning vocal group The Swingles, with whom she toured the world and produced six albums. Specialising in contemporary crossover music, Joanna is a regular soloist for Mass in Blue by Will Todd (which she recorded for the Convivium label) and Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert. With the world’s leading orchestras and contemporary music ensembles she performs works by Steve Reich and Luciano Berio and has sung on over 300 film soundtracks.
London Voices he has performed throughout Europe, Asia and the USA as well as recording and broadcasting inter- nationally and in the UK. UK. London Voices is most well-known for singing on hundreds of movie and computer game soundtracks, including Abzu, Distant Worlds (Final Fantasy), Halo 5, the Harry Potter, Hobbit, Star Wars, Hunger Games and Lord of the Rings film series, James Bond: Spectre and No Time to Die, Grand Budapest Hotel (Oscar ® for Best Soundtrack) and recently appearing on-screen in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
“It is instantly attractive…there is a considerable variety in her music. There is a Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis which work splendidly well.” – British Music Society
“These are wonderful pieces, popular with choirs across the world, and beautifully sung by the London Voices. It is good to hear the sublime Chorister’s Prayer in both its versions for mixed and upper voices. Andreana Chan provides a sensitive organ accompaniment.” – RSCM
“I kept thinking thinking of which pieces my own choirs could perform – the ultimate compliment to the composer and her aims.” – Organists’ Review