On Saturday 22nd August myself and Rhona Smith (Equilibrium) along with guest artists, Emma Clark (vocals), Clare Johnston (viola and tenor recorder) and Karen Marshalsay (Clarsach) performed in an afternoon fund raising concert for Drake Music Scotland (http://www.drakemusicscotland.org).
The programme consisted of pieces composed by Karen, Rhona and myself. Rhona’s composition piece entitled “27:7” was performed first and was improvised with the other muscians with her conducting and performing.
Next on the programme was my own composition entitled “Young Mary’s Suite” this included 3 instrumental pieces: The Hunt, The Banquet and The Dance as well as a song entitled Loch Leven (words sung by Emma).
Then a composition by Karen (http://www.karenmarshalsay.com ) called “Ghosts and Fragments” another freestyle sound-scape with a tune passed between the musicians, with the musicians being harps, viola and a digital cello played by Rhona.
For people who don’t know, Rhona plays and composes using a computer programme called Notion, which allows her to perform a work but also to conduct by using a score line and a hand-controlled switch.
Equilibrium as an ensemble aims to provide a platform for performing new music composed by ourselves and other guest musicians. The original idea came from the Artistic Director at Drake Music Scotland, Mr Pete Sparkes. Equilibrium was formed in 2014 when working in collaboration with Fiona Rutherford (http://www.fionarutherford.com) on a piece for the Edinburgh International Harp Festival. Saturday was the first concert since we formed Equilibrium and the first involving other guest musicians.
The programme consisted of pieces composed by Karen, Rhona and myself. Rhona’s composition piece entitled “27:7” was performed first and was improvised with the other muscians with her conducting and performing.
Next on the programme was my own composition entitled “Young Mary’s Suite” this included 3 instrumental pieces: The Hunt, The Banquet and The Dance as well as a song entitled Loch Leven (words sung by Emma).
Then a composition by Karen (http://www.karenmarshalsay.com ) called “Ghosts and Fragments” another freestyle sound-scape with a tune passed between the musicians, with the musicians being harps, viola and a digital cello played by Rhona.
For people who don’t know, Rhona plays and composes using a computer programme called Notion, which allows her to perform a work but also to conduct by using a score line and a hand-controlled switch.
Equilibrium as an ensemble aims to provide a platform for performing new music composed by ourselves and other guest musicians. The original idea came from the Artistic Director at Drake Music Scotland, Mr Pete Sparkes. Equilibrium was formed in 2014 when working in collaboration with Fiona Rutherford (http://www.fionarutherford.com) on a piece for the Edinburgh International Harp Festival. Saturday was the first concert since we formed Equilibrium and the first involving other guest musicians.