Atacama: Symphony No.3 is a new work by Montreal-born composer Tim Brady, performed by Bradyworks and VivaVoce Vocal Ensemble, with the composer himself at the electric guitar. The composer’s initial inspiration for the piece was a book of poems by Chilean-born poet Elías Letelier – a text that evokes “the political terror of the Pinochet era in Chile, but uses striking metaphors of hope and love in the midst of the nightmare of torture and disappearances”, says Brady.

Each of the first five movements focuses on one poem and on one central musical idea, albeit with many variations. The final movement is more like a suite, using three poems and moving through several different musical landscapes.

Tim Brady has worked as a composer, guitarist and producer of new music since 1980. He has written more than 100 works, including operas, symphonies and many compositions for electric guitar. Brady is currently the composer-in-residence with the Orchestre symphonique de Laval and president of the Canadian New Music Network.

Bradyworks was formed in 1989 to play the music of Tim Brady and to promote his vision of the electric guitar and contemporary chamber-music repertoire. The ensemble features some of Canada’s finest performers with experience in chamber music, jazz, free improvisation, opera, orchestral and electroacoustic music.

VivaVoce is a professional vocal ensemble committed to performing classical music from all periods and to developing the art of Canadian choral music by commissioning at least one new work each year. VivaVoce’s virtuosic execution of difficult contemporary scores as earned them the reputation of Montreal’s chamber choir par excellence.