The Unfolding by Hannah Peel & Paraorchestra

There are pieces of music that seek to tell us deeper stories. Others harness the talents of the players at their disposal in adventurous ways. Then there are the rare, generous works that make us think back to our roots as human beings and to our shared beginnings in the universe, that lift us in their melodies, rhythms and textures, that carry us with them.

The Unfolding is all of these things. An extraordinary eight-part collaboration between composer Hannah Peel (Mercury Prize and Emmy nominee) and Paraorchestra, it was made over three years in precious morsels of time around a global pandemic. These circumstances – unexpected when the collaboration began – add weight to its explorations in sound about who we are, where we came from, and who we could all be. The Unfolding also explores Paraorchestra’s progressive idea of what an orchestra should be, mixing analogue, digital and assistive instruments with a unique ensemble of disabled and non-disabled musicians to make magic happen, and accessible to all.

Tracklist

1.	The Universe Before Matter	10:58

2.	Wild Animal	3:55

3.	Passage	5:23

4.	The Unfolding	5:48

5.	If After Weeks Of Early Sun	4:17

6.	Perhaps It Made Us Happy For A Minute	4:18

7.	We Are Part Mineral	6:06

8.	Part Cloud	10:32

9.	The Unfolding Credits	2:19

Credits

released April 1, 2022

Conducted by Charles Hazlewood
Vocals - Victoria Oruwari
Vocals - Hannah Peel
Alto Flute and Flute - Chloe Vincent
Recorders - James Risdon
Bb Clarinet - Guy Passey
Bass Clarinet - Lloyd Coleman
Bassoon - Linton Stephens
Percussion - Harriet Riley
Drums - Jonny Leitch
Synths & Electronics - Hannah Peel
Programming (track 2) - Kincaid
Cello 1 -Tom Wraith
Cello 2 - Hattie McCall Davies
Double bass - Patrick Phillip

The Unfolding was written and produced by Hannah Peel
Orchestrated for Paraorchestra by Charlotte Harding
Recorded at Real World Studios in Wilshire, England
Engineered by Oil Jacobs
Assistant Engineered by Katie May
Mixed by Michael Keeney at Keeney & Stronge in Bangor, Northern Ireland
Mastered by Guy Davie at Electric Mastering, London
Artwork by Barnbrook
Track 2 written by Hannah Peel and Kincaid.
Track 1 features words inspired by Robert Macfarlane's Underland
Thank you to Adrian Utley for his time and synths during the R&D period, Bristol 2019
With thanks for the support of Steve Varden on electronics and Georgie Ward on synths during rehearsal.
All tracks published bu Mute Song except Track 1 Mute Song/Copyright Control and Track 2 Mute Song/District 6 Publishing.
Hannah Peel is managed by Steve Malins at Random Music Management.

License