Emma Ruth Richards' new song cycle Still I Think Alive will receive its premiere performance at Little Missenden Festival on Friday 2 October. The five songs, with texts by poet Kate Wakeling, will be performed by Jennifer France and explore modern motherhood in many of its contradictions, moving (as she puts it) ‘between moments of wonder, exhaustion, joy, overwhelm and absurdity’. It will be perfomed as part of a programme of song which together explore and express changes in society’s – and women’s own – attitudes towards what it means to be a woman.

Fanny MendelssohnThere be none of Beauty’s Daughters
Felix MendelssohnSuleika op.34 no.4
Libby LarsenJane Seymour (from Try Me Good King); Marriage…Divorce (from Me [Brenda Ueland]); When I am an Old Woman
Rebecca ClarkeInfant Joy; One That Is Ever Kind
Amy Beach In the Twilight; Cradle Song of the Lonely Mother (piano solo)
Kaija SaariahoSua katselen (from Leino Songs)
Judith WeirBreasts!! Song of the Innocent Wild Child; The Mothership: When a Good Mother Sails From This World
Diana BurrellLove Song
Robert SchumannEr, der Herrlichste von allen (from Frauenliebe und -leben)
Clara SchumannDie stille Lotosblume
Emma-Ruth Richards Still I Think Alive (premiere)

The creation of Still I Think Alive has been supported by the RPS Thea Musgrave Fund, which champions composers and performers dedicated to contemporary music. Throughout Thea’s career, she has treasured having dedicated time to shape ideas with musicians. RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants support composers writing a new work for an established solo performer, duo, or chamber ensemble – not only contributing to their commission, but within each grant vitally giving them and their intended performers some means to devote focused workshop and rehearsal time to its creation.

Click below to find out more and to book for the performance.