THROUGH THE EYES OF

Martin Suckling SCO Associate Composer

To mark the centenary of the 1918 Armistice, people have been recording their local church bells to contribute to the composition of a new work by Martin Suckling, Meditation (after Donne). We caught up with Martin about how this is progressing:

Where have you received your recordings from? Around 100 recordings have been received, with contributions from as far north as Orkney down to the south west coast of Galloway. Together with their recordings, people have been kind enough to provide little bits of local history, like the Lanark bell being the oldest cast bell in Europe, or the sometimes circuitous journeys that bells have taken to reach their current towers, as well as lovely details about the recordings made, such as one of a ring by an 11-year-old Sunday School attendee, and a quarter peal in memory of a recently deceased bellringer.

How can bell recordings be used in a new composition? I’ve used the bells in different ways throughout the piece. The opening features them all ringing nearsimultaneously, but for the most part they’re used much more sparsely, gently tolling and outlining the harmony. The bells have quite distinct personalities and ambiences that come with them and I wanted to make sure there is space to take all of this in. They create a kind of landscape for the orchestra to sing within.

How will your new composition live on? I have been approached by other groups for arrangements for this piece including Helensburgh Orchestral Society and Lanark Music Society. It was always the plan that this piece should be approachable by a wide range of groups.

I’m also really excited about a series of workshops with the SCO and young people (in St Andrews, Glasgow and Edinburgh), where we’ll be using their own material alongside the bells recordings to create their own compositions. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to be part of something like this, and I hope the experience will live long in the participants’ memories

––––––SUCKLING Meditation (after Donne) World Premiere 7-9 November 2018 St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Conducted by Nicolas Altstaedt ––––––Proudly sponsored and match funded by

––––––Martin Suckling’s new work is kindly supported by Cruden Foundation and RVW Trust

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