scottishmusiccentre.com facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre twitter.com/scottishmusic
Page 2
Page 3
WELCOME
CONTENTS Welcome
3
Spicing up the Scottish Music Centre
4
Tinkling the Ivories
6
Surprise sonic encounter for the Scottish Music Centre
7
Glasgay! 2012
9
sound 2012
10
Opportunities
13
Next Issue
17
This autumn, we witness one of the busiest seasons ever, with many exciting firsts for both the Scottish Music Centre and our members… The second Composition Marathon launches and opens for applications next month and is generously supported by PRS for Music Foundation, alongside our newest business partner, Glasgow’s Dhabba and Dakhin Indian restaurants; we open our doors as an installation venue for Cryptic’s inaugural Sonica, which also features four composer members; Glasgay’s 2012 musical programming is afforded a strong contemporary classical focus through David Paul Jones and the Scottish Ensemble and, our Exposed Melodies podcast series has been further developed to host two guests in conversation. In comparison to previous issues, this edition places greater emphasis on the organisation(s) as opposed to the individuals, highlighting the many opportunities we have on offer for everyone. You could simply come and observe Piano Migrations or, you could choose to map your own music through Kathy Hinde’s Music Box workshop; you could experience opera on a bus or, construct your own virtual concert environment from nothing more than your smartphone; you could JAM in an exciting collaboration or, you could even apply to the Scottish Music Centre for funding to support potential professional development opportunities. As always, we welcome your feedback and please be sure to pay us a visit and experience exactly what the centre has to offer over the coming weeks! Christopher Glasgow Digest Administrator
Page 4
Page 5
SPICING UP THE SCOTTISH MUSIC CENTRE Following the resounding success of last year’s inaugural Composition Marathon, which has since been established as an annual event, we are delighted to announce our call for applications which opens to composers on Monday 5th November. Inspired by New York based collective, Bang On A Can’s iconic Performance Marathons, this unique project challenges ten composers to write a new work for professional première in less than 24 hours with support from some of Scotland’s finest chamber ensembles, an expert panel and provision of many of our vast resources.
The continuation of this project has been secured, firstly, through the generous support of PRS for Music Foundation and secondly through confirmation of our first ever corporate sponsor, Glasgow’s iconic Indian restaurants, the Dhabba and Dakhin. Over the forthcoming year, they will be on hand, providing our members and audiences with tantalising offers and specials authentic to the various regions of India. Both restaurants are situated on Candleriggs in the heart of Glasgow’s vibrant Merchant City, a stone’s throw away from the City Halls and Old Fruitmarket which are home to the Scottish Music Centre and the countless events we host and promote.
The Dhabba, a critically acclaimed North Indian restaurant celebrates its tenth anniversary on 6th December 2012, whilst the Dakhin was the first authentic South Indian restaurant to open in Scotland on 6th August 2004. In 2007, both establishments were the first and only two restaurants within Scotland to have been awarded the highly coveted Cultural Cuisine Excellence award from the Scottish Tourist Board, prior to which they were also awarded The List magazine’s, Best Newcomer Award in 2003 and 2005 respectively. We are thrilled to be working in close partnership with the fantastic team at the Dhabba and Dakhin. Hospitality is a fundamental coponent of the entertainment experience and we hope as many of our members and patrons as possible will support our local businesses and take full advantage of the impeccable service on offer, especially during the Composition Marathon. Christopher Glasgow, Communications Officer, Scottish Music Centre. Watch this space for further announcements, special offers and of course, the launch of the Scottish Music Centre Composition Marathon! http://www.dakhin.com http://www.thedhabba.com
Page 6
Page 7
TINKLING THE IVORIES For those of you who have been unable to visit the centre, we are pleased to introduce a new arrival… our century-old, bespoke, Hagspiel & Comp baby grand which was partdonated by Scottish composer James Gray and partrescued from the dump by piano tuner Isaac-English. The instrument was restored on Friday 5th October and aside from the grandeur and visual enhancement it adds to the centre, it is an invaluable asset, which will be used for live performance during our Member Receptions, Concept Sessions, launches, seminars and workshops.
SURPRISE SONIC ENCOUTER FOR THE SCOTTISH MUSIC CENTRE As if one piano wasn’t enough, we will be hosting a second in the form of a spectacular sonic installation through our support for and involvement with Cryptic’s Sonica 2012 which has presented countless opportunities for the centre and our members, most notably through selection as host venue for the month-long Scottish première of Kathy Hinde’s unique interdisciplinary installation, Piano Migrations. This breathtaking project transforms the interior of a recycled piano into a kinetic sound sculpture, whereby dozens of small birds landing on telegraph lines appear to flutter and settle on the instrument’s strings, which resonate with every twitch. Nature appears to control machine as both elements unite to create a delicate and ever-changing musical score for both visitors and passers by to enjoy This event is accompanied by Music Box Migrations, an artist-led workshop that explores the idea of using a picture as a musical score. Images of birds, their migration patterns and maps are printed directly onto strips of card, which, when hole-punched are wound through a music box, triggering notes to create a pleasing melody dependent on the locations selected.
http://www.jamesgraymusic.com http://www.petersmithpianos.com
Additionally, we worked closely with Cryptic to feature no less than four composers through Sonica’s Public Engagement Programme. Tim Cooper’s Dora technology
Page 8
Page 9
will be housed in Tramway throughout and is used to translate audience feedback into music, Peter Gregson’s The Listening Machine, an automated system that generates a continuous piece of music based on the activity of 500 Twitter users is highlighted, lectures on The Skoog designed for special needs music and music therapy are inspired by Oliver Searle’s Technophonia and, audiences can enjoy their own personal sonic experience anywhere in the city through Marc Yeats’ GPS triggered, free smartphone app, SATSYPMPH LLP. Piano Migrations runs from 18th October – 22nd November and is open to all visiting the Scottish Music Centre between 11am and 6pm. Music Box Migrations takes place on 20th October between 10am and 1pm at the Scottish Music Centre. Both events are free with no advanced booking required.
I’m thrilled that we have been able to develop the Sonica brand as a way to further sonic art both nationally and internationally. Cryptic has a proven track record of producing music to be looked at, not just listened to and Sonica will lead the way in changing preconceptions about the art form, giving audiences in Scotland and beyond a rare opportunity to experience the best in new international sonic performance. Cathie Boyd, Artistic Director, Cryptic. http://sonic-a.co.uk http://www.pianomigrations.co.uk
GLASGAY! 2012 In developing our relationship with the Glasgay! Festival as music advisors for their 2014 Commonwealth Voices commissioning strand, we are pleased to support the 2012 programming of Scottish Music Centre members David Paul Jones and the Scottish Ensemble. Winner of the 2011 Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Music, David Paul Jones returns on 16th October with an intimate evening of hauntingly beautiful songs and piano works, including the première of The Crow Flies as Miss Clare Sings and The Old Man of Storr. 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten and in a festival first, the Scottish Ensemble are starting the celebrations early on 24th October with one of the composer’s most popular works, Les Illuminations, featuring tenor Thomas Walker and visuals by video artist Netia Jones. Described as vivid, dark, expressive, and a little terrifying these qualities are certainly present in this work. I alone have the key to this savage parade intones the tenor throughout the piece, an interesting choice of motto by Britten, whose pacifism and relationship with tenor Peter Pears often left him feeling an outsider.
http://glasgay.co.uk http://www.davidpauljones.com http://www.scottishensemble.co.uk
Page 10
Page 11
SOUND 2012
EXPOSED MELODIES
On top of the usual packed and varied programme of contemporary classical music, this year’s sound Festival presents some new and exciting strands, which feature several Scottish Music Centre members.
As mentioned in our previous issue, we are currently expanding our Exposed Melodies podcast series to feature industry professionals and organisations who are fundamental in providing and administering a broad range of opportunities for composers and musicians. We hope listeners will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the processes, commitment, work and support necessary for the development of new music in Scotland.
The main focus of the 2012 festival, which runs from 19th October – 18th November, is opera, celebrated in Out of the Box, a 4-day event packed with new, groundbreaking, sitespecific operas in unusual spaces. These include: Gareth Williams’ soaring drama and robust comedy, The Sloan’s Project and the première of Last One Out which takes place in the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, Claudia Molitor’s intimate, miniature, multi-media desk-top opera, Remember Me, commissioned by Cryptic as part of Sonica, Stephen Deazley’s Out of the Box Bus Tour and, Jason Staddon and Matthew Whiteside’s The Welcome Inn and Puddle Wonderful, respectively. The festival also has a 3-day residency with NYOS Futures, who will be premièring new works by Stephen Montague, Paul Mealor and Scottish Music Centre member and Chair, Oliver Searle. Similarly, the new workshop programme, soundgeneration will provide composing and performing opportunities for young people in addition to numerous family-friendly concerts involving Daniel’s Beard and the Red Note Ensemble.
http://sound-scotland.co.uk
This month’s interview features Carol Main (Live Music Now) and Helen McVey (Enterprise Music Scotland): http://www.scottishmusiccentre.com/exposedmelodies
Live Music Now: Live Music Now works with disadvantaged groups who have little or no opportunity to experience the transforming power of music in their lives. The people that they work with and perform for are older people, in failing health, often socially isolated and with dementia; children and adults with learning, physical and communication difficulties; pre-school children and disaffected young offenders within the justice system who need to turn their lives around. With 35 years of experience, Live Music Now has built up a deep understanding of how interactive performances in familiar environments can stimulate and invigorate a wide
Page 12
Page 13
range of audiences. The benefits are far-reaching and long lasting, whether social, emotional or educational; learning new skills and how to participate; and leading to improved well being, mental and physical health.
to assist with the commissioning, touring and promotion of this material. Similar to the Scottish Music Centre’s YMI Training and Continuing Professional Development Fund, Creative Scotland have devolved another strand to Enterprise Music Scotland. The Traditional Arts Small Projects Fund is designed to provide support for traditional artists, groups and organisations to create, platform, tour and showcase their work. The fund will also support professional development projects and highlights an exciting new venture for the organisation.
http://www.livemusicnow.org.uk
Enterprise Music Scotland: Enterprise Music Scotland is the national support body for the chamber music sector, providing centralised services and ongoing funding, which enables over 450 concerts per year to take place. Throughout Scotland there are over 80 chamber music clubs, arts guilds and other voluntary organisations who engage professional musicians to visit and perform in their local venues. Ranging from church halls, community spaces, schools and local concert spaces, Enterprise Music Scotland facilitates access for all to live music across the whole Scottish community. Enterprise Music Scotland helps to keep promoters in touch with quality artists and groups available for touring. By collating and publishing a Tours Book, they ensure musicians wishing to perform in Scotland are given the opportunity to market their concerts to the widest possible audience. Furthermore, Enterprise Music Scotland are committed to making quality new music accessible and annually commission composers in collaboration with their Residency Project and work closely with member promoters
http://www.emusicscotland.co.uk
OPPORTUNITIES Kronos: Under 30 Project The Kronos: Under 30 Project was created in 2003, the ensemble’s 30th anniversary year, to support the creation of new work by young artists, and to help Kronos cultivate stronger connections and develop lasting artistic relationships with the next creative generation. Four pieces have been commissioned through Kronos: Under 30 to date and since the programme’s inception, nearly 1000 applications from 49 countries on six continents have been received. Krono: Under 30 is not a competition, and all composers under 30 years of age are eligible to submit music for
Page 14
Page 15
for consideration. In each round of the programme, applicants are asked to contribute a variety of works, regardless of instrumentation, to introduce Kronos to the music that some of the youngest members of the contemporary classical community are creating. The members of Kronos then select one musician to commission to write a new work for the quartet and staff provide ongoing support through all aspects of the process. The work will be premièred in the Spring of 2014 as part of Kronos’ 40th anniversary season.
with tuition from some of the finest professionals in their respective fields. They include: Nicholas Cleobury, Judith Bingham, Giles Swayne, Ruth Padel and David Harsent. Each composer will be paired with a ‘word-smith’ and, as a creative unit; they will be joined with a choir. In a three-way collaboration, one piece will be created by each unit and performed by their choir in a public concert in Oxford in May 2013. DEADLINE: 23rd November 2012
DEADLINE: 16th November 2012
http://www.jamconcert.org http://kronosquartet.org
JAM: Call for Music This year, JAM (John Armitage Memorial) has launched its call for music in association with Writing for Voices, a new and inspirational project designed to propel composers and librettists of any age or stage in their career. This is a two-fold opportunity whereby; six composers who submit to JAM for their recording and performance programme are then invited to participate in Writing for Voices in celebration of Britten’s centenary. Over five months, six composers, six librettists and six choirs will produce six extraordinary new pieces of music,
YMI Training and CPD Fund The Youth Music Initiative Training and Continuing Professional Development Fund re-opened for applications in August 2012. It is provided by the Youth Music Initiative and is administered, for the second year running, on their behalf by the Scottish Music Centre. This fund is specifically aimed at supporting the training and continuing professional development of individuals and organisations working with children and young people in the informal sector. Awards to individuals will generally be within the range of £100 to £750, while the range for organisations will normally fall between £500 and £5,000.
Page 16
Page 17
DEADLINE: 1st March 2013 http://www.scottishmusiccentre.com/ymitraining
Traditional Arts Fund The Traditional Arts Fund is provided by Creative Scotland and is administered, for the second year running, on their behalf by Enterprise Music Scotland. This fund is designed to provide support for traditional artists and organisations to create, platform and showcase their work. Applicants must therefore be able to demonstrate a positive track record and commitment to one or more of the following: Scottish traditional dance, music or storytelling. DEADLINE: 1st March 2013 http://www.emusicscotland.co.uk/traditional-arts-fund
Our latest Concept Session for secondary school music students led by Edinburgh-based pianist, singer and songwriter Kim Edgar. Edgar's original songs are often very moving, literate, allusive and expressively sung - and destined to travel far beyond their Scottish genesis.
NEXT ISSUE January 2013