news
INSPIRING AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
www.sco.org.uk | Issue 72 | January 2019
SIR JAMES MACMILLAN AT 60 By Carol Main Also inside: Nicola Benedetti | Summer Tour Dates 2019 | Incredible Distance
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CONTENTS
Issue 72 | JANUARY 2019
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REGULARS 3 FOREWORD 4 SCO NEWS 8 60 SECOND INTERVIEW 9 RECENT RECORDINGS 26 YOUR ORCHESTRA, YOUR SAY 27 THROUGH THE EYES OF...
FEATURES 10 Summer Tour dates Dates for your Diary
12 Patron Events and 250 Society 14 Pre-Concert Insights Dates for your Diary
21 Northern Lights Jonathan Dove’s new Accordion Concerto
22 Incredible Distance
COVER 15 Sir James MacMillan at 60 by Carol Main
A creative and collaborative arts project with adults living in Wester Hailes
24 SCO String Academy A new partnership programme with St Mary’s Music School
4 Royal Terrace Edinburgh EH7 5AB telephone: 0131 557 6800 email: info@sco.org.uk www.sco.org.uk
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Core funded by
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC015039 Company registration No. SC075079
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FOREWORD Welcome to our latest edition of SCO News. The first weeks of our Winter Season produced some exhilarating music-making from our Orchestra and guest artists. None more so than Maxim Emelyanychev’s phenomenal performances of Haydn’s The Seasons in October. With the Orchestra, Chorus and visiting soloists all in sparkling form, Maxim provided further insights into his outstanding talents. Whilst we need to wait until next season to see him perform again with the Orchestra on stage, they will head to Dundee’s Caird Hall in February to record Schubert’s ‘Great’ Symphony. Those of you who were with us for his debut back in March this year will recall an extraordinary interpretation of Schubert’s last symphony. The forthcoming recording, will – all being well – be released in time for his first official concerts as Principal Conductor. It was an honour to present new music recently from two Scottish composers who have particularly strong links to the SCO. John McLeod’s Viola Concerto ‘Nordic Fire’ written for Jane Atkins, is a remarkable work, notable for the virtuosity of writing both for soloist and orchestra. It is a piece which I am sure will very quickly enter the
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Gavin Reid
repertoire of viola soloists around the world. A commission to mark the 100th Anniversary of World War I demands a very special work indeed: music with the ability to encourage us both to reflect on the harsh reality of our history and look forward with optimism to a world of peace and beauty. Our Associate Composer Martin Suckling’s Meditation (after Donne) which was premiered in the days leading up to the Armistice in November, did just that. Meditation is the fourth work that Martin has written for the SCO as our Associate Composer. It has been wonderful to work with such a creative artist and our thanks and appreciation go to Martin for all he has brought to the SCO. In February, we celebrate the 60th birthday of another of Scotland’s great composers and one with
equally strong SCO ties. Sir James MacMillan’s percussion concerto Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, which will be performed by Edinburghborn percussionist Colin Currie, conducted by the composer and was originally commissioned by this orchestra, is now one of the most frequently performed pieces of orchestral music written in the last 25 years and can rightly claim to be a contemporary classic. Over the coming weeks and months, you will see several changes within the Orchestra. It is with our good wishes and heartfelt thanks that we say farewell to Jane Atkins, Alison Mitchell, Alec Frank-Gemmill, Brontë Hudnott and Marciana Buta. Each of them has made a brilliant and unique contribution to the SCO over many years. The artistry and musicianship that they have all brought to the Orchestra has been inspirational. On behalf of all us, I should like to thank them for all they have given to the SCO and our audiences here and around the world. I hope you enjoy reading our News and I look forward, as always, to seeing you at our concerts
Gavin Reid Chief Executive
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SCO NEWS
Nicola Benedetti
PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT –––––– We are very pleased to announce a new three-year sponsorship agreement with one of the UK’s leading wealth management businesses Quilter Cheviot, who will be sponsoring SCO performances featuring the much-loved Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti. Quilter Cheviot and the SCO share a number of similarities:
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both organisations are proud to be serving Scotland on a national level, both depend on developing trusting relationships with their clients or audience, and both pride themselves on their professionalism, dedication and determination to be the very best in their field.
year of The Quilter Cheviot Benedetti Series, you can look forward to the violinist directing and performing Mozart Violin Concertos Nos 3 and 5. These concerts will take place in Perth on Wednesday 3 April, Edinburgh on Thursday 4 April and Glasgow on Friday 5 April.
There is always a huge sense of anticipation leading up to Nicola Benedetti’s performances and, in this first
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© Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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FOR HE’S A…. –––––– Our Chief Executive Gavin Reid has been awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland! At the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Class of 2018 Graduation Ceremony in October 2018, the Principal Professor Jeffrey Sharkey welcomed Gavin as a Fellow to the RCS for his service on the RCS Board and his outstanding contribution in partnering RCS students with both his former Orchestra the BBC SSO and now with the SCO. Most recently, Gavin has been involved in the development of the RCS side-by-side wind ensemble projects which many of you have heard at our Chamber Concerts, and performance opportunities for RCS students at SCO preconcert events, as well as a series of training and development programmes for RCS students with SCO musicians. Professor Sharkey had some important words for his graduates, which are equally relevant to all of us: “I urge you to continue to develop your talent to its fullest potential. Open your mind to new possibilities and share what you learn. See how your art can make you a relevant and valued contributor to your
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Gavin Reid
society. In this the centenary year of his birth, composer Leonard Bernstein is as relevant and resonant as ever in defining what this means. He said: “It is the artists of the world, the feelers and the thinkers who will ultimately save us; who can articulate, educate, defy, insist, sing and shout the big dreams.”
IMPACT LATEST –––––– Thank you to all who contributed to the commentary for the planning application with City of Edinburgh Council for the IMPACT Centre. It is now in the hands of the planners, and we hope to have a decision in March 2019.
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© Robin Gillanders
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Karine Polwart
SCO AT CELTIC CONNECTIONS 2019 –––––– Following our 2018 performance with postminimalist composer Max Richter, we are excited to be collaborating with some of the world’s finest folk musicians in two performances at Celtic Connections 2019. On Friday 25 January, we perform new arrangements from two distinctive contemporary artists,
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Rachel Sermanni and Jarlath Henderson, known for their poetically stirring songcraft. We are back two days later – on Sunday 27 January – to collaborate with the UK’s foremost singer-songwriters Karine Polwart and Kris Drever, for sumptuous orchestra arrangements of songs old and new. Following her hugely-lauded theatre work Wind Resistance, Polwart’s sixth solo album, Laws of Motion, garnered further glowing reviews in
2018, while Drever’s third, 2016’s If Wishes Were Horses, foregrounded his superb original songcraft alongside the vocal and guitar skills also deployed with Lau.
SAVE THE DATE ––––––
SEASON LAUNCH EVENTS 2019/20 12 March Edinburgh 15 March Glasgow
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Scotland’s ABO members with MSPs and event sponsor Classic FM Front row left to right – Katja Armknecht (Red Note Ensemble), Carol Main (Live Music Now Scotland), Kirsty Leith (Global / Classic FM), Fiona Hyslop MSP, Jenny Jamison (Scottish Ensemble), Thursa Sanderson (Drake Music Scotland), Paul MacAlindin (The Glasgow Barons) Back row left to right – Samantha McShane (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Nick Žekulin (National Youth Orchestras of Scotland), Bill Chandler (RSNO), Gavin Reid (SCO and ABO Chair), Tom Arthur MSP, Dominic Parker (BBC SSO), Alfonso Leal del Ojo (Dunedin Consort)
SCOTLAND’S MUSIC MATTERS! –––––– We were delighted to be part of a celebratory Scottish Parliamentary Reception in December 2018. Hosted by Tom Arthur MSP, the event was part of the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) 70th Birthday Celebrations. Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs acknowledged Scotland’s orchestras as classical music world leaders and that “the creative industries are key to our prosperity
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and we are very fortunate to have such a thriving classical music sector.” The event coincided with the launch of a special report – Scotland’s Music Matters. This report highlights the diversity, quality and distinctiveness of Scotland’s unique music sector, connectivity and international reach. Please take a look at the report at the ABO website: www.abo.org.uk/media/153336/ ABO-Scotlands-Music-MattersPublication.pdf
SCOTTISH GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR ARTS & HUMANITIES INTERNSHIP –––––– We are pleased to have been selected to take part in a fully-funded intern scheme organised by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities. The scheme provides internships for PhD researchers to spend up to three months at a partner host organisation, enabling the student to develop their
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research skills, networks and industry experience while at the same time providing additional resource and expertise to make a difference to the organisation.
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SECOND INTERVIEW HOLLY MATHIESON
From March to June 2019, Georgia Vullinghs will work with us to develop a Youth Voice Strategy for the SCO. Georgia is an Arts & Humanities Research Councilfunded PhD candidate with the University of Edinburgh and National Museums Scotland, researching Jacobite material culture. She plays clarinet and piano in her spare time and was a member of Scotland’s Urban Past Youth Forum (Historic Environment Scotland), acting as a judge for the “Scottish Heritage Angel Awards” 2016 as a youth representative.
Holly, last year you conducted our family concert, The Chimpanzees of Happy Town and this February, you’re back with us for Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants – what excites you most about working with the SCO on these concerts? I loved working with Chris Jarvis on this last year, so it’ll be great to see him again. He keeps everyone, including the orchestra and me, in hysterics. But mainly, it’s the energy of the orchestra. Obviously they are exceptional players, but they seem to really enjoy entertaining the families in the audience, and get right into role-playing and slapstick on stage. It is inspiring to see an orchestra give so much joy. And as a conductor, I couldn’t ask for a lovelier room of people to work with; they are collaborative, engaged and really take pride in what they’re doing.
Georgia’s project for the SCO will help us to benefit and learn from the views, energy and knowledge of young people across Scotland and to support the Orchestra’s ongoing mission to transform and enhance lives through the power of inspirational musicmaking
It’s been said many times before, but really can’t be overstated (not least, because it teaches us adults a lesson): Children and young people have no preconceptions, no social filters. They just hear whatever you throw at them – whether it’s Beethoven, Boulez or bebop – and listen to it with really open, curious ears and huge imaginations. They’re so easily guided into using music to fire up their imaginations.
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You’ve mentioned in interviews before that you enjoy working with children and young people. In your opinion, what are the benefits / importance of introducing children to orchestral concerts?
What can parents and children expect to experience from an SCO Family concert? Great quality music, engaging storytellling, and deep belly laughs –––––– Proudly sponsored by Holly Mathieson conducts Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants on 9 & 10 February in Edinburgh and Perth.
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RECENT RECORDINGS
Our recording of Brahms’ Symphonies continues to wow the critics! “Some recordings intoxicate the senses, simply because they have so much to offer. The way in which every detail of this music has been honed and perfected by Ticciati’s trusted players in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and then absorbed into a lyrical, affectionate whole, is endlessly fascinating. This has to be, as far as I’m concerned, the most beguiling small-orchestra Brahms yet.” Richard Fairman, Gramophone Magazine, Critics Choice 2018 (December Issue) “Robin Ticciati creates raw, romantic fever, in his transformed version for chamber orchestra of Brahms’ Symphonies. They have a drive and a nerve that never wear out.” Top 10 Albums of 2018 from Danish Newspaper Politiken
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Brahms: The Symphonies Robin Ticciati – Conductor
“This Brahms has a wonderful maturity. Together it preserves all the freshness that in his writing, Brahms has never neglected. The amplitude, the breath of the melodic phrases goes alongside the robust articulation of the rhythmic passages. But what distinguishes this juxtaposition is the fluidity.” Disc of the Month and 5 stars from Italian magazine Classic Voice –––––– Available from the SCO merchandise desk or by phone on 0131 557 6800 –––––– This recording was made possible with support from the SCO Sir Charles Mackerras Fund and the Usher Hall.
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SUMMER TOUR DATES 2019 Bringing high quality music to communities across the length and breadth of Scotland
5 9 Three days Creative Learning Residency in Caithness
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DATE
TOUR
VENUE
Wednesday 5 June
Full Orchestra
1. Musselburgh Brunton Theatre
Thursday 6 June
Full Orchestra
2. Stranraer Ryan Centre
Friday 7 June
Full Orchestra
3. Annan Academy
Saturday 8 June
Full Orchestra
4. Galashiels Volunteer Hall
Saturday 15 June
Creative Learning Residency
5. Caithness
Sunday 16 June
Creative Learning Residency
5. Caithness
Monday 17 June
Creative Learning Residency
5. Caithness
Monday 24 June
SCO Wind Soloists
6. Daliburgh St Peter’s Hall (South Uist)
Tuesday 25 June
SCO Wind Soloists
7. Carinish Hall (North Uist)
Wednesday 26 June
SCO Wind Soloists
8. Tarbert Community Centre (Harris)
Thursday 27 June
SCO Wind Soloists
9. Stornoway An Lanntair (Lewis)
Wednesday 26 June
SCO Strings
10. Elgin Town Hall
Thursday 27 June
SCO Strings
11. Banchory The Barn
Friday 28 June
SCO Strings
12. Aberfeldy Breadalbane Community Campus
Sunday 30 June
Full Orchestra
13. East Neuk Festival
Thursday 18 July
Full Orchestra
14. Stirling Castle
Friday 19 July
Full Orchestra
15. Findhorn Universal Hall
Saturday 20 July
Full Orchestra
16. Turriff St Ninian’s Church
Sunday 21 July
Full Orchestra
17. Forfar Reid Hall
Wednesday 24 July
Full Orchestra
18. Oban Corran Halls
Thursday 25 July
Full Orchestra
19. Campbeltown Victoria Hall
Friday 26 July
Full Orchestra
20. Bowmore Islay High School
Saturday 27 July
Full Orchestra
21. Dunoon Queen’s Hall
Thursday 12 September Full Orchestra Friday 13 September
Full Orchestra
Saturday 14 September Full Orchestra Sunday 15 September
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Full Orchestra
22. St Andrews Younger Hall 23. Largs Barrfields Theatre 24. Lanark Memorial Hall 25. Lammermuir Festival
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PATRON EVENTS
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This Season, we are pleased to be offering a series of events for our Patrons to get a little insight into the SCO and to meet some of their favourite SCO musicians or visiting soloists. So far, some of our Edinburgh Patrons have had the pleasure of being entertained by Kristian Bezuidenhout in Edinburgh’s historic St. Cecilia’s Hall and we also enjoyed welcoming many friends to a post-concert reception in the Usher Hall, giving them the chance to chat to some of the SCO musicians and to meet Bertrand Chamayou over drinks and canapés. In Glasgow, a group of 40 Patrons enjoyed a lunchtime performance by the SCO Winds and the RCS Stevenson Winds as part of the collaborative Side-by-Side project at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Following this, players, students and Patrons enjoyed afternoon tea in the lively atmosphere of the RCS and, as one of our Patrons put it, everyone found it “a delightful way
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A delightful way to spend a Friday afternoon to spend a Friday afternoon”. As we look forward to the New Year, everyone at the SCO is excited to be returning to the newly-transformed Music Hall in Aberdeen to join some of the Patrons there for a sneak peek behind the scenes before our first concert on 19 January! We hope this Season’s events are not only opportunities for Patrons to get to know the Orchestra better, but also to enjoy the social aspect of supporting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra –––––– To learn more about becoming a Patron, please contact Laura Hickey on 0131 478 8344.
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WIN £250 ––––––
250 SOCIETY Just £5 a month as a member of the 250 Society gives you the chance to scoop £250 in our monthly draw at the same time as knowing that you are contributing towards the SCO’s Creative Learning programme. Please join us in congratulating recent winners of our 250 Society: October November December
Linda Legget Elizabeth Gardner Pamela J Harper
To learn more about the 250 Society or to join now, contact Laura Hickey on 0131 478 8344.
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PRE-CONCERT INSIGHTS – DATES FOR THE DIARY All events take place from 6.30-7.00pm and are free to concert ticket holders. Please join us!
Thursday 17 January, Edinburgh Queen’s Hall
Friday 22 March, Glasgow City Halls
Friday 18 January, Glasgow City Halls
Performance by students from the Music School of Douglas Academy.
Saturday 19 January, Aberdeen Music Hall
SCO Principal Horn Alec Frank-Gemmill in conversation with Sub-Principal Second Violin Gordon Bragg. Thursday 31 January, Edinburgh Queen’s Hall
Thursday 25 April, Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Friday 26 April Glasgow City Halls
Conductor John Storgårds discusses the evening’s programme.
Friday 1 February, Glasgow City Halls
Dr Katie Overy, Eric de Wit & Alison Green (Edinburgh) and Dr Jane Bentley, Su-a-Lee & Peter Franks (Glasgow) discuss ReConnect, the SCO programme for people living with dementia.
Thursday 2 May, Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Friday 3 May, Glasgow City Halls Saturday 4 May, Aberdeen Music Hall
Composer Jonathan Dove introduces his new Accordion Concerto.
Saturday 9 March, Aberdeen Music Hall
Performance by students from Aberdeen City Music School Thursday 14 March, Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Friday 15 March, Glasgow City Halls
Conductor Joseph Swensen in conversation with Svend McEwan-Brown.
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Thursday 09 May, Edinburgh Usher Hall Friday 10 May, Glasgow City Halls
Fantastic Tales: Storyteller Claire Hewitt and SCO Clarinet William Stafford conjure up Berlioz’s dark world of witchcraft and obsession. Presented in collaboration with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland).
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SIR JAMES MACMILLAN By Carol Main AT 60 SCO News January 2019 proof.indd 15
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Not every composer wants to do it, but I’ve always loved performing, and conducting is my way of getting out there and working with fellow musicians
What better ways for a composer to celebrate his 60th birthday than to write new music and to have his music heard? Both are happening in appropriately significant quantities for Sir James MacMillan’s significant birthday in 2019, with the SCO leading the way in first performances of new works and programming key scores already in the orchestral and choral repertoire. Although the actual birthday is in mid-July, the SCO’s special Sir James MacMillan 60th Birthday Concert falls across 21/22 February in Edinburgh and Glasgow, when the Orchestra returns to its 1992 commission, the percussion concerto Veni, Veni, Emmanuel. First performed at the BBC Proms that summer, its soloist then
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was Dame Evelyn Glennie and the piece has now had – somewhat unusually for a contemporary concerto – over 500 performances worldwide. “We gave up counting after 500,” says MacMillan. Alongside the concerto is Seven Last Words from the Cross, premiered in Glasgow in 1994. “In many different ways the two pieces suit the SCO,” says MacMillan. “The SCO premiered Veni, Veni with Evelyn Glennie, and are now performing it with Colin Currie, who has taken it up and travelled round the world with it. Seven Last Words hasn’t been done by the SCO, so I’m really looking forward to conducting the Orchestra and Chorus and bringing it all together.” Opening the programme with Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam
Our Sir James MacMillan 60th Birthday Concert includes Veni, Veni, Emmanuel and Seven Last Words from the Cross with the SCO Chorus
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Sir James MacMillan with Evelyn Glennie in 1992
This extra-curricular work, as well as composition, is about what a composer can do for his community, for the country he lives in and for the musicians he works with Benjamin Britten introduces two of MacMillan’s own favourite composers to the concert too. “It’s an in memoriam piece for another composer,” he explains, adding, “I have a lot of affection and admiration for the music of Arvo Pärt, especially its serenity, beauty and sadness. I’m very close to Britten’s music and whenever I get the chance to programme it, especially abroad, I take the chance to do so.” Not all composers conduct, of course, but it’s a
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role which has evolved and developed for MacMillan over the years. “I usually conduct works of my own and other 20th century music. Not every composer wants to do it, but I’ve always loved performing and conducting is my way of getting out there and working with fellow musicians. Writing is very solitary.” Although it’s now a baton rather than the trumpet of his youth that he picks up in performance, singing has consistently been
something in which MacMillan has participated. “I’ve always sung,” he says, “right through university and even up to three years ago when I had to step in as a tenor in the church choir I took in Glasgow. I love working with choirs.” Just looking at MacMillan’s output so far, it is clear that choral music, much of it inspired by sacred texts, is important to him. In writing for his special birthday year,
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It’s more an in depth look at the history of the Holy Spirit and trying to probe what it is through those writers
it is chorus and orchestra to which he has turned, with the SCO, The Sixteen and Genesis Sixteen, a special scheme for young artists, preparing to premiere his Symphony No 5, MacMillan’s first choral symphony. The exact details of its premiere are still under wraps, but MacMillan is clearly excited about it. “There are two choirs and the SCO,” he says. “I’ve spent a whole year writing it – it’s big! The texts are quite diverse, taken from St John of
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the Cross and TS Eliot, and in words and sounds it’s an exploration of the idea of the Holy Spirit, but not through the usual channels of Veni Spiritus, Veni Creator. It’s more an in depth look at the history of the Holy Spirit and trying to probe what it is through those writers.” It’s all a long way from the plastic recorder in an East Ayrshire classroom that started off MacMillan’s music-making.
“After that, I moved on to trumpet and cornet, playing with my grandfather in colliery bands. He then got me organ tutors and generally encouraged me. It was through Cumnock family and friends that I got started. I’m writing a volume about it, coming out this year.” The University of Edinburgh introduced MacMillan to Professor Kenneth Leighton as his first composition teacher. “He taught in an old-fashioned way, but it’s vital for a composer.
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It was brilliant training and I think that they are softpedalling a bit now.” A PhD from Durham University led to a job at Manchester University, with the early commission, The Confession of Isobel Gowdie, first heard at the BBC Proms in 1990, placing MacMillan even more firmly on an ascending path. But before then, the SCO was already influencing the route his path would take. “In the ‘80s, Kathryn McDowell, who now runs the LSO, was the education person. It was very exciting. We worked on a lot of education and outreach together, especially with Peter Maxwell Davies’ Strathclyde Concertos. We’d get kids trying to make their own music. I’m still doing it, but now at Cumnock
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Tryst. This extra-curricular work, as well as composition, is about what a composer can do for his community, for the country he lives in and for the musicians he works with.” As well as composing and conducting, MacMillan is now planning the sixth Cumnock Tryst Festival in his home town, inspired by the models of Britten in Aldeburgh and Maxwell Davies in Orkney. In common with these festivals, Cumnock Tryst encourages and supports young composers, with talent coming from local schools. Involvement from the SCO is once again critical in giving opportunity for that new talent to emerge, this time through MacMillan’s Masterworks programme in East
Ayrshire and with hopes that the Orchestra will feature even more prominently when a new school opens in Cumnock in 2020. The SCO has had a strong connection with Sir James at every stage of his career, and it’s a relationship that will clearly continue with much success long after this special 60th birthday year –––––– Sir James MacMillan 60th Birthday Concert with percussionist Colin Currie and SCO Chorus is on 21 & 22 February in Edinburgh and Glasgow. –––––– Kindly supported by
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NORTHERN LIGHTS Jonathan Dove’s new Accordion Concerto
Northern Lights are becoming a bit of a theme this season! The Aurora Borealis was the inspiration behind John McLeod’s new Viola Concerto ‘Nordic Fire’ performed magnificently by Jane Atkins last October. Now, Jonathan Dove has just announced his new Accordion Concerto will be named ‘Northern Lights’. The piece is carefully tailored for soloist Owen Murray, and is a fitting tribute to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, drawing influences from his love of Orkney. Max had originally been commissioned to write the concerto, but he sadly passed away as he was about to start work on it. The premiere performances in May will be an emotional homecoming for Owen Murray. He attended the music class at Edinburgh College of Commerce in the 1970s, but he faced much humiliation and negative attitude for playing the classical accordion. This made him even more determined to succeed. Later, Owen began his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with the legendary Professor Mogens Ellegaard.
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Owen’s work over the past 36 years has created so many education and performance possibilities for young accordionists. There have been many successes by his Royal Academy of Music accordion students in respected competitions involving all instruments; performances in prestigious venues including the Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall and Royal Festival Hall, with famous orchestras and at major festivals; and recordings for Decca and Deutsche Grammophon –––––– Jonathan Dove’s new work is kindly supported by Mr Roland Williams, PRS Foundation and the Royal Academy of Music.
–––––– Our Edinburgh concert is proudly sponsored by
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INCREDIBLE DISTANCE An original audio-visual installation A day in the life of Wester Hailes as told through the eyes and ears of the people who live there. Incredible Distance is a creative and collaborative arts project with adults living in Wester Hailes which forms part of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s three-year residency in the area. An open invitation was made to adults living locally and, over six weeks of sessions at WHALE Arts working in collaboration with composer Suzanne Parry and workshop leader Emma Smith, participants have created an original audiovisual installation which explores the sonic and visual identity of Wester Hailes, capturing snapshots of daily life through the collection of found sound, imagery, film and original musical composition. Woven into an intricate tapestry of sound and imagery by composer Suzanne Parry and artist Ewan John, the result is part
tone poem, part dreamscape, which loosely reflects 24 hours in the life of Wester Hailes –––––– Incredible Distance will be displayed at the Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition (Sunday 23 December 2018 – Thursday 17 January 2019), WHALE Arts (Tuesday 22 January – Saturday 9 February 2019) and the Fruitmarket Gallery during the Connecting Communities Exhibition (Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 February 2019). ––––––
Kindly supported by The Castansa Trust, The Robertson Trust, Paul and Clare Rooney, The Christina Mary Hendrie Trust, Mrs Rowena Goffin’s Charitable Trust, The Stevenston Charitable Trust, The Nancie Massey Charitable Trust, Geraldine Kirkpatrick Charitable Trust, Ponton House Trust and Anonymous
Score by Suzanne Parry, images by Incredible Distance participants.
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SCO STRING ACADEMY On 6 December 2018 we were delighted to announce a new partnership programme with St Mary’s Music School for young string players in and around Edinburgh. SCO String Academy offers a new, free opportunity for school-aged string players to work with top professional players over a series of three Sunday afternoon sessions in the centre of Edinburgh. Conducted by SCO Violinist Gordon Bragg and tutored by SCO musicians, the SCO String Academy is open to violin, viola, cello and double bass players who have reached Grade 6+ and who are able to commit to all three sessions. There are no auditions, and places are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis to those who register at sco.org.uk/stringacademy. The first course takes place on Sundays 10, 17 and 24 March, 2-5pm, at St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, Edinburgh Pay it Forward We are grateful to The Penpont Charitable Trust for their generous support in helping us launch the SCO String Academy project. It costs around £100 per participant to run an SCO Academy course. If you would like to see projects like this continue, please consider paying forward for another young musician to participate in a future course at sco.org.uk/support-us/donate –––––– To learn more about String Academy, please email Mary Walls mwalls@st-marys-music-school.co.uk or call 0131 538 7766
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YOUR ORCHESTRA, YOUR SAY...
Insta pick of the Season
–––––– Your opportunity to comment and have your say. Whether it is via social media or by sending us a letter, we love to hear from you. ––––––
@queens_hall @SCOmusic Wow! Francois Leleux proved he is not just the greatest living #oboe player but also can construct the most chilled night’s entertainment! Derek Zuckert @derekz1
Thank you all for the wonderful performance… Orchestra, chorus and soloists were all excellent. And, of course your amazing Principal Conductor Designate [Maxim Emelyanychev]. What a gifted musician… Without a doubt you deserved the five star review in The Times. Haydn Downey – Haydn The Seasons attender, Email
The SCO Chorus annual Christmas Concert in the beautiful setting of Greyfriars Kirk
JOIN THE CONVERSATION –––––– Sign up for our email newsletter For all our latest news, films, photos, blogs and special offers, visit sco.org.uk/latest Email us Michael Devlin, Customer Communications michael.devlin@sco.org.uk Comment on Facebook facebook.com/scottishchamberorchestra Share your experience on Twitter @SCOmusic Share your experience on Instagram @scottishchamberorchestra #mySCO
Thank you to everyone who came to ‘Room on the Broom’ [SCO Family Day] and to the awesome @SCOmusic for putting on the show, as well as @WHALE_Arts for organising. #dadsrock #roomonthebroom #dads
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Dads Rock @DadsRockEdin
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THROUGH THE EYES OF... ALEC FRANK-GEMMILL Principal Horn You’ve have had a wonderful decadelong career here at the SCO, what have been your musical highlights? I’ve honestly never thought about highlights before! One of the things that makes me most proud to be part of SCO is how consistently excellent the Orchestra is. So isolating individual moments is not easy. That said, especially memorable concerts include Schubert’s Great C Major (aka Great Sea Monster) in Vienna, Beethoven 3 at the Proms and wind chamber music earlier this year at the Wigmore Hall. In the latter, especially, my colleagues played like unbelievable heroes. This January, you perform Mozart’s Horn Concerto No 4 – a piece you’ve probably performed with a variety of orchestras. What makes this forthcoming concert different? What are you most looking forward to? This concert is different because it’s on the natural horn. Admittedly I played K495 without valves in St. Andrews six months ago and I did a (similar!) Mozart concerto with Richard Egarr conducting a few years back. However, this will be my first time working with Reinhard Goebel, who sounds like an incredibly interesting musician. I’ve also borrowed an original Viennese instrument (from SCO supporter Martin Prowse) for this project – I hope it will help me bring something fresh, as well as convincing, to the performances.
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This February you’ll sadly be stepping down as our Principal Horn and so, what’s next for AFG? I’d love to give you a clear answer because I actually thrive on a plan. However, I am playing with various different groups over the next year and will just see what happens. I’m also hoping to shift focus more towards conducting (it’s much easier than playing the horn!) and to keep my solo playing up to snuff. I’ll really miss the SCO – it’s the best. –––––– Alec Frank-Gemmill plays Mozart’s Horn Concerto No 4 on 17 -19 January in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Conducted by Reinhard Goebel –––––– Alec’s Chair is kindly supported by Claire and Anthony Tait –––––– Our Aberdeen concert is proudly sponsored by
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Every time we play a note You’ll still be there ––––– If the SCO is something you treasure, leaving a gift in your Will can make a significant and lasting difference. Help us to ensure that orchestral music can continue to inspire future generations.
sco.org.uk/support-us/legacies To speak in confidence about leaving a gift in your Will to the SCO, please call Lucinda Coulthard on 0131 478 8364. The SCO is a charity registered in Scotland No SC015039.
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