ACO Originals is a series of releases dedicated to new works commissioned by the ACO and recorded live in concert.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra performs the world premiere of a new work by Thomas Adès, one of the world’s foremost contemporary composers. The ACO was one of nine prestigious orchestras around the world who came together to commission the work, and it gave the world premiere performance of the piece in Wollongong in February 2021.

The music takes the concept of a shanty – a work song sung by sailors – and from its simple structure of a repeated melody, sung by multiple voices, creates the image of a widening seascape. The cyclical verses, says Adès, ‘build a story of the harsh, mechanical routine’ of the sailors’ labour, ‘an implied yearning for liberation from the arbitrary regime of petty masters, and a dream of a safe harbour beyond.’

> Stream full track on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1YkctjHKOH29xuNBgseief?si=evQ_DIE5SoWqLwBdnr-PFw

> Stream and buy the album: https://snd.click/ACOShanty?pid=YLImW0SKlCZQ