GLOW is about ghosts – a range of mysterious glowing phenomena that continue to enthral and terrify us. Three stories are told in three different languages: a strange electric light envelopes masts of a sailing ship; fairy flames beguile a traveller at night; a luminous presence enters a room. Live instruments weave through and colour the narratives. Each language acts as an instrument in its own right, explored for unique sonic qualities.

Commissioned by Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble and PRS Foundation New Music Biennial.

Xenia Pestova Bennett plays the Magnetic Resonator Piano, a hybrid acoustic instrument designed by Andrew McPherson.

Texts by Xenia Pestova Bennett with translation and narration by Erik Waldejer (Danish), Angharad Davies (Welsh) and Zeynep Bulut (Turkish) inspired by the diaries of Georg Wilhelm Steller, the writings of Nan Shepherd and the stories of Xenia's great-grandmother.

Additional audio: Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, Xenia Pestova Bennett and Franziska Schroeder

Audio mastering: Brian Robinson

Performance version features videos by Steven Lee - watch trailer here.

Track Listing:

1. Dusk

2. Interlude 1

3. Night

4. Interlude 2

5. Noon

Text translations:

Dusk - in Danish

"On September 24, we had overcast weather most of the day. The fog and drizzle gathered towards evening and we lost sight of our companion boat. Then, two phenomena occurred that I had never seen before in my life. The ignes lambentes (lapping lights), called by sailors St. Elmo’s fire, were followed by terrifying movement of the clouds, shooting like arrows in the storm. An eerie luminous blue glow spread around the masts of the ship like liquid fire. It was as if a malevolent ghost enveloped us and carried us into darkness."

Night - in Welsh

"We walked for a long time in the dark. I could see the mountains against the sky, which was full of stars. At times, as we disturbed the bog while walking, little sparks danced around our feet.Later I noticed more of them in the distance. Blue-purple flames, ignes fatui (fool’s fires), fire of the Fairies. Try approaching them, and they retreat. I was told that they can lead you into a dangerous place and strand you in blackness. But I also know that walking in the dark can teach you new things about an old familiar place."

Noon - in Turkish

"It must have been around noon. I was alone in the house. There was a heavy, oppressive feeling in the air, as if a storm was coming. I was sitting at my desk, facing away from the window. Suddenly, a glow appeared in the corner of my vision. I turned my head to see a transparent shining globe floating in the room. It looked like a small sun. I got up from the desk and flattened myself against the wall, standing very still and trying not to breathe. The sphere hovered in one place for a moment, then moved towards the fireplace. It disintegrated upon hitting the hearth, leaving a strange smell."

Order from NMC Recordings here.

PRS Foundation and Southbank Centre’s New Music Biennial is a critically acclaimed free festival of new music, presenting a unique snapshot of contemporary music in the UK today. 20 pieces of new music will be performed across two festival weekends at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (6^th – 8^th June 2025) and London’s Southbank Centre (4^th-6^th July 2025), broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and available for download from NMC Recordings. New Music Biennial 2025 is generously supported by Arts Council England. www.newmusicbiennial.co.uk