Korros Ensemble Release EP & Album Featuring World Premiere Recording of Elizabeth Poston Trio

On 1 October 2021, the Korros Ensemble will release a digital EP of the world premiere recording of Elizabeth Poston’s Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Harp on Convivium Records. Written in 1958 by the much-overlooked composer, Poston’s Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Harp is thought to be the first ever of its kind scored for these instruments.

The EP will be followed in March 2022 by a full album release that will include Poston’s Trio alongside a previously uncovered work by the composer for solo harp entitled Forma for Harp. The full album will also feature: Howard Blake’s Trio Op.25, in its original scoring for flute, clarinet and harp, together with Pennillion, which Blake will be arranging himself for the Korros Ensemble; Catrin Finch’s Messengers that has been written specially for this recording; Nick Ellis’s Jaqueline’s Theme again written specially for this album; and a special arrangement by the composer of Vocalise by Cheryl Frances-Hoad.

The album will be released to coincide with International Women’s Day in March to highlight the works by the three female British composers featured on the recording. 

With a strong vision of adding something new and original to the chamber music world, The Korros Ensemble is made up of Eliza Marshall (flute), Nick Ellis (clarinet) and Camilla Pay (harp) and has been performing together since its formation in 2001. The group has performed at The Tate Modern, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Örbyhus and Hudiksvall Festivals in Sweden. They have collaborated with Ballet Rambert, and Pineapple Dance Studios and received new works written for them by some of the finest British living composers including Patrick Nunn, Andrew Morgan and Olivier Award nominee, Philip Venables. Individually, the members of the ensemble have performed with all major UK orchestras, including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Royal Opera House (on stage soloist), BBC Concert Orchestra and London Sinfonietta. They have also toured with Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Andrea Bocelli, Karl Jenkins, Bryn Terfel, and recorded with Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Katherine Jenkins, and on numerous Hollywood blockbuster soundtracks for Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and Ennio Morricone. No strangers to Theatreland, The Korros musicians have appeared at the RSC, National Theatre, on all major West End Shows, and Eliza currently holds the flute chair for The Lion King at London’s Lyceum Theatre.

Nick Ellis, Clarinettist for the Korros Ensemble said: ‘The Korros Ensemble’s ‘lockdown’ research into finding repertoire for our unusual combination of instruments has taken us on a fascinating musical odyssey, with the discovery of harp chamber music by the overlooked composer, Elizabeth Poston. The group was very excited to discover that Poston composed a Trio for flute, clarinet and harp, probably the first ever of its kind. We have also uncovered Poston’s solo harp work, Forma, dedicated to Maria Korchinska and will include both on our forthcoming album alongside new works and arrangements from Catrin Finch, Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Howard Blake.’

Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987) was a British composer, writer, and musicologist with a distinguished career in radio broadcasting for the BBC. Well-known as a composer of hymn tunes, carols, and pieces for radio and television, Elizabeth Poston’s involvement in music was multifaceted. Pursuing her musical talent at the Royal Academy of Music, she graduated in 1925 with a prize for her violin sonata, which was subsequently broadcast by the BBC, and seven published songs already to her name. Among the most significant of Elizabeth’s musical achievements are her compositions for radio and television, of which there are over 40 for radio alone; her work saw her collaborate with prominent writers such as C.S. Lewis and Dylan Thomas. In 1914, she moved with her mother, Clementine Poston, to nearby Rooks Nest House, where E.M. Forster had lived as a child. Poston and Forster subsequently became good friends. In addition to her success as a composer, Poston had a highly accomplished career as an academic; having written for the Arts Council of Great Britain, in 1947 she also created a five-part lecture series for the BBC on composer Peter Warlock, and subsequently presided over the Society of Women Musicians from 1955 to 1961. What remains particularly interesting about Poston’s life is her secretive work as a war agent; during World War II she worked for the BBC using gramophone records to send coded messages to allies in Europe. Interestingly, Poston never revealed the exact nature of this work, and it remains secret to this day. Poston’s works are often characterised as neo-classical in style, with her most widely reordered work being the carol Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.