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Ready or Not

Palaver Strings · 2022

Ready or Not (Azica Records, 2022) celebrates music written by women from the renaissance to the present day. In selecting the pieces for this album, we looked both within and beyond the classical tradition and string orchestra medium for diverse voices and compelling stories. These selections represent just the tip of the iceberg: women’s creative visions have always been here, whether the world was ready or not.

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CREDITS

Recorded October 2020 - January 2021 at the Shalin Liu Performance Center (Rockport Music). Engineering | Kyle Pyke, Christopher Moretti, and Tom Caulfield Mixing and Mastering | Kyle Pyke and Jesse Lewis of Immersive Music Project Production | Kyle Pyke and Palaver Strings, with input from Liz Knowles, Akenya Seymour, and Sophie Michaux Graphic Design | Fiona Hilton Album artwork | Alyssa Grenning Photography | Christina Wnek Chicago (Akenya Seymour)

MUSICIANS

Violin · Josie Davis, Sophie Davis, Maya French, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Grant Houston, Emma Powell, Maura Shawn Scanlin, Ryan Shannon

Viola · Brianna Howard, Lysander Jaffe, Elizabeth Moore

Cello · Stephanie Chen, Eunghee Cho, Drake Driscoll, Matthew Smith, Kamyron Williams

Bass · Nate Martin

Mezzo-soprano · Sophie Michaux

what they said.

“”

As dynamic young performers playing without a conductor, the Palaver players know how to command a stage on their own terms.

— The Boston Globe

“”

The fresh, galvanizing sound of the Palaver String Ensemble makes for a musical partnership that goes far beyond accompaniment.

— Bay Area Reporter

“”

Bacewicz's Concerto for String Orchestra flies off the page, with the players' energy matching the vigour of the Polish composer's writing.

— BBC Music Magazine

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