In connection to International Women’s Day on March 8th, PENTATONE releases a digital-only album of Songs for Murdered Sisters, a new song cycle by Margaret Atwood and Jake Heggie, recorded by Joshua with Jake Heggie at the piano.
Following the murder of his sister in 2015, Joshua set out on a journey to use his personal and professional voice to wake people up to the global epidemic of violence against women. His call to action inspired the great Canadian author Margaret Atwood to write Songs for Murdered Sisters, a brilliant set of eight poems that American composer Jake Heggie then set to music.
In this 27-minute song cycle, a devastated wanderer attempts to find meaning and answers within a landscape of love, loss, grief, anger, rage and possible redemption.
Dear Joshua,
I listened to the recording which was broadcast on CBC radio today. It was devastatingly beautiful. The songs and your voice were spectacular, bravo!
Taras
Thank you so much for your kind words, Taras. It has been such a moving and cathartic journey to create this song cycle. Best wishes to you and your loved ones. -Josh