The Unfolding

Made up of disabled and non-disabled players, the Bristol-based Paraorchestra is an ensemble without boundaries. The Unfolding, a specially commissioned album of music by Irish composer Hannah Peel, asks questions of who we are and where we come from. But at its heart, it’s an exploration of the very nature of an orchestra, with its scoring for digital, analog, and specially adapted instruments. It’s a thrilling journey, from the swirling mists of “The Universe Before Matter” to the ambitious title track featuring soprano voice and a mesmerizing array of instrumental textures. Elsewhere, Peel’s music brings Paraorchestra’s captivating energy bubbling to the surface, the propulsive “If After Weeks of Early Sun” and innovative “We Are Part Mineral” celebrating both this ensemble’s versatility and mastery.