The Scottish Ensemble and Sally Beamish: Beyond Borders

For:

Seavaigers by Sally Beamish with fiddler Chris Stout and harpist Catriona McKay

Commissioned by:

Scottish Ensemble, Spitalfields Festival, London, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff

Event date:

June 2014

Re-defining the string orchestra, the Scottish Ensemble inspires audiences in the UK and beyond with vibrant performances which are powerful, challenging and rewarding experiences. The UK’s only professional string orchestra, the Ensemble is based in Glasgow and is built around a core of 12 outstanding string players who perform together under Artistic Director Jonathan Morton.

Championing British string music is one of the Ensemble’s key values and recent years’ programmes have seen commissions by John Tavener, James MacMillan, Sally Beamish, Luke Bedford and Martin Suckling.

One of these commissions – Seavaigers by Sally Beamish – inspired the Ensemble to devise a project exploring the dialogue between classical and traditional music. Teaming up with folk super-duo Chris Stout (fiddle) and Catriona McKay (Scottish harp), the Ensemble will present a programme that looks at this intriguing relationship, with Seavaigers showcasing the creative possibilities opened up by looking to both spheres for inspiration.

The remainder of the programme will develop this idea – with Stout joining Artistic Director Jonathan Morton as soloist for a new interpretation of Bach’s iconic Concerto for Two Violins, and with a new collaborative commission between 7 Scottish composers that will feature a traditional Scottish melody from which variations by key contemporary classical voices will grow.

Full programme:

Stout/McKay – Sunstone

Beamish – Seavaigers

Bach – Concerto for Two Violins, Strings and Continuo in D Minor, BWV 104

Various – Scottish Variations (New commission)