soundfestival 2017 brochure

Scotland’s Festival of New Music 26 October - 11 November 2017 www.sound-scotland.co.uk

Acknowledgements sound collaborates with a network of local, national and international organisations, working in partnership to promote new music events during the festival and throughout the year. The 2017 network includes: Anatomy Rooms Caledonian Sleeper

Glenbuchat Village Hall

Inverurie Music Society

Monymusk Arts Trust North East Scotland College

St Andrew’s Cathedral

The Royal Deeside Railway

Many thanks to the following for their support:

Turtleton Charitable Trust

Hugh Fraser Foundation

Aberdeen Endowments Trust

The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust

And thanks to our soundbytes investors!

Media Partner Brochure design: Cake www.everyonelovescake.co.uk Cover image featuring Peter Whelan by Martin Usborne: martinusborne.com

Sound Festival is a Company Limited by Guarantee no 394992 and a registered Scottish Charity SC037310

Fiona Robertson and Pete Stollery

Bassoons, opera and the North…

2017 sees the beginning of sound’s fiveyear project around endangered musical instruments. We’ll leave it to you to guess what these instruments might be in future years but we start the ball rolling with the bassoon and are really pleased to be working with internationally acclaimed bassoonists such as Pascal Gallois, Peter Whelan, Laurence Perkins and Lesley Wilson, who will guide us through established new music repertoire for bassoon as well as brand new works to be premiered at the festival from Sonia Allori, Rory Comerford, Pete Stollery and a co-commission from sound, Pascal Gallois and our ensemble-inassociation, Red Note, from Benedict Mason.

Revisiting the genre of opera, last featured in 2012, we present a number of events towards the end of the festival, including

welcome

Welcome to this year's soundfestival a celebration of the pioneering work of Raymond Scott, the first performance at sound of work from David Toop, a welcome return of one of sound’s Out of the Box commissions from 2012, The Garden and the acclaimed Belongings (co-commission from sound and Tête à Tête) which takes place in the dining car of the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Aberdeen, with a further performance during the festival on the Deeside Railway. There'll also be pop-up operas around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire on Thu 9, Fri 10 and Sat 11 November. Look out for them!

In association with the University of Aberdeen, sound will host a three-day series of events under the banner Sounding the North, examining if there is such a thing as a “northern” sound, through contemporary classical, folk, jazz and electroacoustic music, featuring Quatuor Bozzini (Montréal), Arild Andersen (Norway), James Clapperton (Norway), invisiblEARts (Scotland), Song Circus (Norway), Edinburgh Quartet (Scotland) and Erik Mikael Karlsson (Sweden). …and, of course, there’ll be much, much more; family events, regular late-night sessions at the Belmont, and plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty with new music.

Fiona Robertson (Festival Director) and Pete Stollery (Chair)

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Quick guide

Quick guide Date

Event

Starts

Venue

Page

Composers' Kitchen with Quatuor Bozzini

6pm

King’s College Chapel

6

Arild Andersen's Rose Window Trio feat. Kirsten Bråten Berg

8pm

The Blue Lamp

6

Quatuor Bozzini

1pm

St Machar’s Cathedral

7

James Clapperton (piano) and Zoe Martlew (cello)

7.30pm

Butchart Recreation Centre, University of Aberdeen

7

Late night soundsessions: Erik-Mikael Karlsson and invisiblEARts

10pm

Belmont Filmhouse

8

Promenade Concert

10am

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

8

Edinburgh Quartet

1pm

St Machar’s Cathedral

9

Andiamo Fagotto – Let's go Bassoon! 4pm

The Bothy, Glenbuchat Village Hall

9

Hidden Architectures

5pm

Basement Studio Theatre, North East Scotland College

10

Song Circus

7.30pm

Butchart Recreation Centre, University of Aberdeen

10

Late night soundsessions: Quatuor Bozzini with Kim Myhr (12-string guitar), Caroline Bergvall (poet), Ingar Zach (percussion)

10pm

Belmont Filmhouse

11

Frauke Jürgensen (soprano) and Claire Babington (cello)

12.45pm

Aberdeen Citadel

11

In Place

7pm

The Lemon Tree

12

Nautilus

8pm

The Blue Lamp

13

Clyde’s Water

7pm

The Salmon Bothy, Portsoy

13

Celebrating Chris Cadwur James

7.30pm

King’s College Chapel

13

Late night soundsessions: Mark Lyken

10pm

Belmont Filmhouse

14

Family Concert

11.45am 12.45pm 2.45pm

MacDuff Marine Aquarium, MacDuff

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October Thu 26

Fri 27

Sat 28

November Thu 2

Fri 3

Sat 4

2

Date

Event

Starts

Venue

Sat 4

New music for bassoon

12pm

St Andrew’s Cathedral

15

In Place

5.30pm

Logie Coldstone Village Hall

15

Mr McFall’s Chamber with Peter Whelan (bassoon)

7pm

The Barn, Banchory

16

Late night soundsessions: You Are Wolf

10pm

Belmont Filmhouse

17

Laurence Perkins: Bassoon Voyager Scottish Tour

3pm

Monymusk Arts Centre, Monymusk

17

Rohan de Saram (cello), Suren de Saram (percussion) and Kausikan Rajeshkumar (piano)

3pm

The Barn, Banchory

18

Christian Wilson (organ)

1.10pm

King’s College Chapel

18

New Music for Organ with Dr Roger B Williams

6pm

King’s College Chapel

19

Christina McMaster (piano)

12.45pm

Aberdeen Citadel

19

Red Note Ensemble with Pascal Gallois (bassoon)

7.30pm

The Anatomy Rooms

20

Jam Experiment

8pm

The Blue Lamp

20

Belongings

9.15pm

Departs London Euston train station

21

Belongings

4pm

The Royal Deeside Railway, Milton of Crathes

21

Of Leonardo da Vinci: Quills, a Black Giant, Deluge

7pm

Basement Studio Theatre, North East Scotland College

22

Late night soundsessions: Graeme Stephen with Lizabett Russo

10pm

Belmont Filmhouse

22

Pascal Gallois (bassoon)

1pm

The Anatomy Rooms

23

The Garden

2.30pm

The Anatomy Rooms

23

The Garden

4.30pm

The Anatomy Rooms

23

Mozart vs Machine

6pm

The Lemon Tree

24

Créations sans frontière: Franco-Scottish musical twinning

8pm

The Anatomy Rooms

25

soundfestival closing event

9pm

The Anatomy Rooms

25

Sun 5

Tue 7

Thu 9

Fri 10

Sat 11

Page

Quick guide

Quick guide

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Information

Book tickets!

Booking info

Concession tickets

Tickets for soundfestival events are available through Aberdeen Box Office unless otherwise indicated.

Concessions are available for full time students and those in receipt of Pension or Universal credit. Disabled people are entitled to a concession plus a free ticket for their carer. Appropriate proof of concession will be required.

Online: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com Tel: 01224 641122 In person: His Majesty's Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen, AB25 1GL or The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT Booking fees may apply.

Events in the programme reflect our programme as of August 2017. This may be subject to change. For current programme details and updates please visit www.sound-scotland.co.uk

Special Offers Offers only apply to advance sales and are not available on the door.

Sounding the North events pass This pass gives you access to events marked SN between 26-28 Oct with the exception of Arild Andersen's Rose Window Trio, 26 Oct. ÂŁ60 (full); ÂŁ30 (conc) Late night soundsessions Buy 1 ticket get 1 half price for the same or different evenings.

Key WP

World Premiere

UKP

UK Premiere

Scottish Premiere

FF

Family friendly

Most soundfestival performances last no longer than an hour and approximate end times are indicated wherever possible.

Scan the front cover of the brochure using the free Layar app on your smartphone to be instantly connected to our website and buy tickets for festival events!

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Information

Special events Sounding the North

SN

The University of Aberdeen, in collaboration with soundfestival, is holding a three-day gathering to explore the validity and nature of the concept of a distinctive northern musical voice. Papers, workshops and presentations will seek to contribute to our understanding of the essence of a northern sound world, aiming to enhance our understanding of how, if it exists, such a sound world can be defined. Publicised events are open to all. There may be additional events not included in this brochure at the time of publication. Please visit our website for current details.

Out of the box opera

photo: Mihaela Bodlovic

Endangered Instruments series: the bassoon

photo: Tommaso Tuzj & Odradek Records

O

The return of new opera following 2012’s hugely successful “Out of the Box” project which featured operas in a lighthouse, a pub, a flat and even on a bus! You can expect the unexpected again this year! Keep an eye on our website and social sites for updates on additional operas popping up on Thu 9, Fri 10 and Sat 11 November!

B

It’s all about the bassoon at this year’s soundfestival as we shine a spotlight on this often overlooked but incredibly versatile instrument with new commissions, performances and workshops. This is the first year in a 5-year focus on endangered musical instruments.

soundconversations These are unique opportunities to explore new works and ideas with composers and artists. soundconversations usually follow a performance and last no longer than 30 minutes.

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THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER

Thu 26 Oct

Composers’ Kitchen with Quatuor Bozzini

In partnership with Sound and Music and Quatuor Bozzini

SN

Sound and Music, Quatuor Bozzini and sound are thrilled to present the premiere performance of new works by composers Rebecca Bruton, Jason Doell, Lawrence Dunn and Sarah Lianne Lewis as part of the Composers’ Kitchen project 2017-18.

photo: Michael Slobodian

6-7pm | King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc), FREE for students soundconversation following concert

During this exchange project for two UK composers and two Canadian peers, the composers have the opportunity to work closely with the quartet in workshops in both Montreal and the UK where they mix, cook and taste ideas before having their completed works performed in Montreal and at tonight's soundfestival opening concert!

Composers’ Kitchen 2017 is made possible with the generous support of the British Council, Arts Council England, PRSF Talent Development Partnership, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Conseil des Arts de Montréal, the Socan Foundation, Concordia University, Culture et Communications Québec.

Arild Andersen's Rose Window Trio featuring Kirsten Bråten Berg

SN

In association with Jazz at The Blue Lamp

Led by legendary Norwegian bassist/ composer Arild Andersen and featuring the vocals of traditional singer Kirsten Bråten Berg, Arild’s all-star ‘Rose Window Trio’ makes its Aberdeen debut. With Helge Lien, piano, and Gard Nilssen, drums, the group has been described as combining ‘folk-melody, ambient-bass tone-poems and vibrant American-rooted jazz’ (John Fordham, The Guardian).

8pm | The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen £15, £12 (conc), £5 (students)

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Quatuor Bozzini

SN

In association with the University of Aberdeen

Fri 27 Oct

FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER

photo: Michael Slobodian

1-2pm | St Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc), FREE for students

Quatuor Bozzini contributes to the Sounding the North symposium with a programme of music from Canada, Iceland and Scotland.

Icebergs et Soleil de minuit by Simon Martin pays homage to the distinguished Canadian painter Jean-Paul Riopelle. In 1977, after visiting the stark northern landscapes, Riopelle painted a black and white series entitled Icebergs, including Midnight Sun (Quartet in White). Moonbow by upcoming Icelandic composer, Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson, is the premiere of a new piece commissioned by the Quatuor Bozzini.

Simon Martin..................................................................................... Icebergs et Soleil de minuit Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson................................................................................... Moonbow WP James Dillon.................................................................................................... String Quartet No. 3

James Clapperton (piano) and Zoe Martlew (cello) In association with the University of Aberdeen

7.30-8.30pm | Butchart Recreation Centre, University of Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc), FREE for students

SN

This performance features Wings of Spring

by Bent Sørensen for cello and Kali and Gillichrist (A Viking Tale)* by James Clapperton and Sven Erga for piano, cello and electronics. Kali and Gillichrist, written 2015-16 and premiered in Oslo, is inspired by texts from the Orkneyinga Saga. *Commissioned by NOTAM, Oslo.

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FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER

Fri 27 Oct-Sat 28 Oct

Late night soundsessions: Erik-Mikael Karlsson and invisiblEARts

SN

In association with Belmont Filmhouse

10pm-midnight | Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc) See p.4 for late night soundsessions ticket offer.

Scotland’s collective of acousmatic composers (Robert Dow, Alistair MacDonald, Pippa Murphy and Pete Stollery) will be joined by Sweden’s Erik-Mikael Karlsson performing multichannel electronic music, both live and pre-recorded.

SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER

Promenade Concert

In association with Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Lunchbreak Concerts

10-11.30am | Aberdeen Maritime Museum FREE

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FF

Join us for our popular family-friendly promenade concert, starting with rowies & tea/coffee/juice before progressing through the Maritime Museum to discover three short new music performances from musicians including Lesley Wilson (bassoon) and Zoe Martlew (cello).

Edinburgh Quartet

In association with the University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Lunchbreak Concerts

SN

Sat 28 Oct

SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER

1-1.45pm | St Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen FREE

soundconversation following concert The Edinburgh Quartet perform a programme by Scottish contemporary composers. Geoff Palmer’s piece premiered at the St Magnus International Festival earlier this year and features an additional 4th movement.

Geoff Palmer....................... Sonata, Fugue and Chorale (String Quartet No.6 for Max) 2017* Alasdair Nicolson........................................................................................... String Quartet No. 3 *Co-commissioned by the St Magnus International Festival and sound.

Andiamo Fagotto – Let's go Bassoon!

B

4pm | The Bothy, Glenbuchat Village Hall £10, £5 (conc) Journey in time, space and imagination as Lesley Wilson plays music that will amuse and intrigue!

Hear how differently composers have thought about the bassoon between the 18th century and our own era.

photo: Tommaso Tuzj & Odradek Records

Alongside a piece by Vivaldi, Lesley will perform works she has commissioned (and recorded) from Janet Beat, Marcus Blunt and Roger Williams and is delighted to premiere Gemma McGregor's Strange Fish in today's recital.

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SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER

Sat 28 Oct

Hidden Architectures In association with DanceLive

What does it mean to be connected? Do our connections constrain us or liberate us? Are we ever able to act independently of one another?

5pm | Basement Studio Theatre, North East Scotland College £10, £5 (conc)

An interdisciplinary collaboration between choreographer Saffy Setohy and sound artist/composer Jan Hendrickse, Hidden Architectures explores the connections and social knots that we make as humans.

This immersive performance features an original live score composed for dancers, prepared electric guitars, and electronics.

Co-commissioned by Tramway and Science Gallery London.

Song Circus

In association with the University of Aberdeen

7.30-8.30pm | Butchart Recreation Centre, University of Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc)

10

SN

We're pleased to welcome Song Circus back to soundfestival this year, an exciting Norwegian female vocal ensemble who specialise in contemporary music and improvisation. The programme presents Ruben Sverre Gjertsen’s Landscape with Figures and Karin Rehnquist’s David Nimm.

Late night soundsessions: Quatuor Bozzini with Kim Myhr (12-string guitar), Caroline Bergvall (poet), Ingar Zach (percussion)

SN

In association with the University of Aberdeen and Belmont Filmhouse 10pm-midnight | Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc)

Sat 28 Nov-Thu 2 Nov

SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER

See p.4 for late night soundsessions ticket offer.

A festival highlight at the Festival International Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Canada, Kim Myhr’s Pressing clouds passing crowds slowly and intensely moves between sound and poetry. "insistent and hypnotic" All about jazz Kim Myhr...................................................................................... Pressing clouds passing crowds Ingar Zach............................................................................................................... Inside the inside

THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER

Frauke Jürgensen (soprano) and Claire Babington (cello) In association with Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Lunchbreak Concerts

12.45-1.30pm | Aberdeen Citadel FREE

soundconversation at 12pm Frauke Jürgensen and Claire Babington give the UK premiere of Geoff Palmer's Unidentified Edges on poems by Anne Cluysenaar. The programme also contains 17th century songs by Dowland with Nathan Bissette (lute).

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THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER

Thu 2 Nov

In Place

7-8pm | The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc) soundconversation following concert With Melanie Pappenheim (voice), Nic Pendlebury (viola), Kate Halsall (keyboards), Ruth Goller (bass guitar) and Stephen Hiscock (percussion). *Commissioned by sound as part of the PRS for Music Foundation’s Beyond Borders programme which is a co-commissioning and touring programme run in partnership with Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

With additional support from Arts Council England.

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WP

In Place explores a sense of place in the British Isles; how it informs our cultural identity; shapes our language and dialects; provides both solace and stimulation, and contains histories both universal and personal. It speaks to all corners of the British Isles; Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and England.

It also crosses art-form boundaries.

Composer Colin Riley is collaborating with writers for whom place is a recurring theme (Robert Macfarlane, Paul Farley, Selina Nwulu, Nick Papadimitriou, Jackie Morris, Richard Skelton, Autumn Richardson). This specially created writing will form the core of a set of songs for vocalist and ensemble.

Nautilus

Promoted by Jazz at the Blue Lamp

8pm | The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen Tickets & info from www.jazzatthebluelamp.com

Nautilus quartet featuring bassist Robert Lucaciu, drummer Philipp Scholz, pianist Jürgen Friedrich and saxophonist Hayden Chisholm will take you on a spontaneous musical adventure full of harmony and free flowing ideas.

Thu 2 Nov-Fri 3 Nov

THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER

FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER

Clyde’s Water 7pm | The Salmon Bothy, Portsoy £10, £5 (conc) soundconversation following concert

B This evening’s performance features a programme of music including Clyde’s Water, a recently reworked version of a work for multiple bassoonists, voice and electronics by Rory Comerford.

With Gillian Horn, Rhiannon Carmichael, Ana Rodriguez Garcia, Victoria Lopez, Chris McShane and Ronan Whittern (bassoon), Simon Gall (voice) and Kyalo Searle Mbullu (electronics).

Celebrating Chris Cadwur James Promoted by the University of Aberdeen

7.30pm | King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc), FREE for students

Chris was a much-loved teacher, composer, and performer on the staff at the University of Aberdeen Music department, who died ten years ago this year. This concert features music composed by him, along with music by composers who influenced him. There will also be performances by past winners of the Chris Cadwur James Concerto Competition and music from winners of the Chris Cadwur James Composition Prize.

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FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER

Fri 3 Nov-Sat 4 Nov

Late night soundsessions: Mark Lyken Promoted by Grampian Hospital Arts Trust In association with sound and Belmont Filmhouse

10pm-midnight | Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc) See p.4 for late night soundsessions ticket offer.

With support from Creative Scotland.

This intimate performance brings together the distinct practices of two artists, Mark Lyken and Kevin Andrew Morris. Mark incorporates electronics with discrete sounds collected during a collaborative exhibition at The Suttie Arts Space, as well as soundings of objects created during a ceramic instrument making workshop (see p. 28 for workshop details).

SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Family Concert

In association with MacDuff Marine Aquarium

FF

11.45am / 12.45pm / 2.45pm | MacDuff Marine Aquarium, MacDuff £7.25, £4.10 (5-15 yrs), £2.90 (3-5 yrs), under 3s FREE – max 2 per adult, £4.95 (seniors) Performances FREE (ticket to the aquarium required).

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Join us for a fun, family-friendly concert of aqua-inspired and ‘fishy’ music with Jamie Lawson at MacDuff Marine Aquarium.

New music for bassoon

In association with St Andrew’s Cathedral and Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Lunchbreak Concerts

B

Sat 4 Nov

SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER

12pm | St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen FREE

soundconversation following concert

photo: Tommaso Tuzj & Odradek Records

With Lesley Wilson, Kate Friday, Hannah Hilton, Lucy Webster, Emma Simpson, Angela Clark and Tim Tricker (bassoon). *Commissioned by sound with support from soundbytes investors. **Commissioned by Lesley Wilson.

A one-of-a-kind concert featuring professional and local semi-professional bassoonists brought together by Lesley Wilson who has been promoting new music for the bassoon ever since her days as Principal Bassoon in the RSNO. The programme features new works for multiple bassoons by Sonia Allori, Pete Stollery and Janet Beat which will be performed alongside an established work

by Edward McGuire.

Sonia Allori...................................................................................................... Fall From Grace* WP Pete Stollery............................................................................ You’re a Fisherman’s Bassoon WP Janet Beat................................................................................................... No Sun, No Moon** WP Edward McGuire.................................................................................................................... Lament

In Place In Place* explores a sense of place in the British Isles; how it informs our identity and shapes our language and dialects.

Composer Colin Riley is collaborating with a number of writers for whom place is a recurring theme, forming a set of songs for vocalist and ensemble. This performance is a bespoke, unplugged version, as a more intimate experience involving additional materials.

5.30pm | Logie Coldstone Village Hall £10, £5 (conc) With Melanie Pappenheim (voice), Kate Halsall (keyboards) and Stephen Hiscock (percussion).

*Commissioned by sound as part of the PRS for Music Foundation’s Beyond Borders programme which is a co-commissioning and touring programme run in partnership with Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon. With additional support from Arts Council England.

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SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Sat 4 Nov

Mr McFall’s Chamber with Peter Whelan (bassoon)

B

photo: Douglas Robertson

photo: Jen Owens

7pm | The Barn, Banchory £10, £5 (conc) soundconversation following concert

The English poet, John Keats, used to entertain his friends at parties with his imitation of the bassoon. Jeremy Thurlow’s Blithe Wine takes this association further, painting various aspects of Keats’ characterebullience, melancholy, romance, drunken fun-in six movements for bassoon quintet.

Keats’ favourite instrument is further explored in three solo etudes, as well as in a recently-composed duo for bassoon and viola by the Scottish composer, Edward McGuire. Toru Takemitsu’s Autumn from his work for violin duo, Rocking Mirror Daybreak pursues a theme which corresponds to one of Keats’ most famous odes, while Errollyn Wallen’s Intense, from her work for violin and viola, Five Postcards, reflects, once more, Keats’ ebullience and vivacity.

Edward McGuire....................................................................... Toccata (for bassoon and viola) Takemitsu.......................................... Autumn, from Rocking Mirror Daybreak (for two violins) Denisov........................................................................................ 3 solo études for solo bassoon Errollyn Wallen................................................. Intense from Five Postcards (for violin and viola) Jeremy Thurlow........... Blithe Wine (for bassoon and string quartet) – Friendliness Unquelled; A Living Orrery; Romanza; A Little Concert Among Friends; Lunes; A Vast Idea Before Me John Hearne............................................ Eulogy and Lament (for bassoon and string quartet)

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Late night soundsessions: You Are Wolf In association with Belmont Filmhouse

10pm-midnight | Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc) See p.4 for late night soundsessions ticket offer.

photo: Ian Wallman

’keld’: the deep, smooth still part of a river

Sat 4 Nov-Sun 5 Nov

SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER

KELD You Are Wolf (vocalist/composer Kerry Andrew with multi-instrumentalist Sam Hall and percussionist Peter Ashwell) present folk songs and lore with unusual, electronica-tinged arrangements. Their new project, KELD, explores the theme of freshwater, with traditional and original songs about banshees and water sprites, vengeful rivers and wild swimming.

SUNDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Laurence Perkins: Bassoon Voyager Scottish Tour Promoted by Inverurie Music Society

B

3pm | Monymusk Arts Centre, Monymusk £12, children FREE (available on the door) Bassoon Voyager is a multimedia live concert performance by UK solo bassoonist Laurence Perkins – a unique presentation featuring solo bassoon with projected video and still images.

The programme is a musical journey to Switzerland, France, a Shakespearian island, the Pyrenees, England (including the Lake District) and the Scottish Hebrides, with music by Reto Stadelmann, Corrette, Ridout, Mignone, Robin Walker and Cameron Sinclair, plus a tribute to Piazzolla, Renaissance English dances and traditional Scottish folk melodies.

This performance is dedicated to the memory of the great British bassoonist William Waterhouse.

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SUNDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Sun 5 Nov-Tue 7 Nov

Rohan de Saram (cello), Suren de Saram (percussion) and Kausikan Rajeshkumar (piano) In association with Woodend Music Society

3-4.45pm | The Barn, Banchory £10, £5 (conc) Tickets also available from www.thebarnarts.co.uk / 01330 825431

photo: Jane Baker

soundconversation with composer, video artist and musicians following the performance

This afternoon’s programme will include the premiere of Arias and Cadenzas*, a new work from David Ward to accompany specially filmed video projections by Oonagh Devoy.

The second half will include movements from Bach's solo cello suites, a Chopin Barcarolle (piano) and free improvisation from all three musicians. *Co-commissioned by sound and Woodend Music Society.

TUESDAY 7 NOVEMBER

Christian Wilson (organ)

In association with University of Aberdeen 1.10-2pm | King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen FREE

See p. 27 for details of a discussion led by Christian Wilson and Roger B. Williams on the role of the organ in contemporary music today following this performance at 2.30pm. *Commissioned by sound.

Arvo Pärt................................................... Annum per Annum-Einleitung, K, G, C, S, A, Coda J S Bach........................................................... Dies sind die heil’gen zehn Gebot (BWV 678) Jonathan Harvey......................................................................................................... Laus Deo J S Bach..................................................................... Vater unser im Himmelreich (BWV 682) Alasdair Nicolson................................................................................ The Ebb Variations* WP J S Bach................................................................. Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (BWV 686)

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New Music for Organ with Dr Roger B Williams Dr Roger B Williams’ annual recital of contemporary works for organ will include a new work by sound’s composer in residence John De Simone as well as a new work from Aberdeen based Mike Merrill.

See p. 27 for details of a discussion led

by Christian Wilson and Roger B. Williams on the role of the organ in contemporary music today at 2.30pm.

6pm | King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc), FREE for students

Tues 7 Nov-Thu 9 Nov

TUESDAY 7 NOVEMBER

*Commissioned by sound.

soundconversation following the recital John De Simone.................................................................................................. New Work* WP Mike Merrill........................................................................................................... New Work WP Sofia Gubaidulina........................................................................................... Hell und Dunkel Arvo Pärt........................................................................................................................... Trivium Stephen Montague............................................................................... Toccare Incandescent

THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER

Christina McMaster (piano)

In association with Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Lunchbreak Concerts 12.45-1.30pm | Aberdeen Citadel FREE

soundconversation at 12pm

photo: Carlos Lumiere @ Lumiere London

This dynamic programme contrasts two innovative composers' études. Debussy's innovative set of 12 Études were composed towards the end of his life, his influence from Erik Satie is apparent in their often witty and playful energy.

The rhythmically driven and vivacious Glass Études encapsulate the prolific composer's lifetime of distinctive writing.

Meredith Monk........................................................................................................... Ellis Island Debussy................................................................................................................. Études Book 1 Philip Glass...................................................................................... Étude No. 9 & Étude No. 6

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THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER

Thu 9 Nov

Red Note Ensemble with Pascal Gallois (bassoon)

B

photo: Wattie Cheung

7.30pm | The Anatomy Rooms £10, £5 (conc) *Co-commissioned by sound and Red Note Ensemble with support from Diaphonique, Franco-British fund for contemporary music in partnership with the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, the Sacem, the British Council, the French Ministry of Culture, the Bureau Export, the Institut français and the Friends of the French Institute Trust and soundbytes investors.

As part of our Endangered Instruments series sound aims to support composers to create new works for these instruments.

In an another exciting Franco-Scottish collaboration, sound has joined forces with Red Note, Scotland's contemporary music ensemble, and one of the most prominent bassoon players in the world, Pascal Gallois, to commission a new work from renowned British composer, Benedict Mason. This work will be premiered tonight alongside works by two French composers.

Benedict Mason.................................................................................................. New Work* WP Philippe Hersant...................................................... Huit Pièces for bassoon and ensemble Grisey................................................................. Talea for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano

Jam Experiment

Promoted by Jazz at the Blue Lamp

8pm | The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen Tickets & info from www.jazzatthebluelamp.com

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Jam Experiment are a young jazz quintet based in London. They won the 2014 Jazz North Introduces Scheme, shortly after their debut gig supporting Liane Carroll.

The line-up includes the winner of the inaugural BBC Young Musician Jazz Award, saxophonist Alexander Bone, trombonist Rory Ingham, Toby Comeau on keys, Joe Lee on bass and Jonny Mansfield on drums.

Belongings In association with Tête à Tête & Caledonian Sleeper

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Samuel Bordoli (music) Bill Bankes-Jones (words)

9.15pm | departs London Euston train station To watch Belongings on the train you will have to be a Caledonian ticket holder available from www.sleeper.scot.

Belongings is a miniature music theatre piece inspired by items of luggage carried by railway passengers. It premiered to acclaim on the Caledonian Sleeper (the first ever opera to be performed on the sleeper train!) leaving Aberdeen en route to Euston station in July this year. You can catch it again en route from London to soundfestival in Aberdeen tonight. There will be a further performance in Aberdeenshire, see below for details.

Thu 9 Nov-Fri 10 Nov

THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER

Co-commissioned and co-produced by Tête à Tête and sound.

FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER

Belongings

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In association with Tête à Tête 4pm | The Royal Deeside Railway, Milton of Crathes £10, £5 (conc)

If you didn’t take the overnight Caledonian Sleeper to Aberdeen here is another opportunity to experience Belongings written by composer Samuel Bordoli and Tête à Tête’s Artistic Director Bill BankesJones. See above for full description.

Co-commissioned and co-produced by Tête à Tête and sound.

Keep an eye on our website www.sound-scotland.co.uk for forthcoming details of pop-up operas across Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire today and tomorrow Thu 9 / Fri 10 Nov!

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FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER

Fri 10 Nov

Of Leonardo da Vinci: Quills, a Black Giant, Deluge

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photo: Guido Mencari, courtesy of SPILL festival of performance art

7pm | Basement Studio Theatre, North East Scotland College £10, £5 (conc) Elaine Mitchener (vocal improvisation/ movement), Dam Van Huynh (direction & choreography), David Toop (sound & text - after Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebooks), Barry Lewis (film).

“Why does the eye see a thing more clearly in dreams than with the imagination being awake?” Leonardo da Vinci, Notebooks A woman reads and reflects upon Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebooks.

A contemporary movement-opera for improvising vocalist, film and sound.

Late night soundsessions: Graeme Stephen with Lizabett Russo In association with Belmont Filmhouse

See p.4 for late night soundsessions ticket offer.

Enchanted Tales

10pm-midnight | Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc)

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Journey through fairy tale lands… a newly constructed work merging silent films of classic fairy tales. Featuring a new score written and performed by innovative musician and singer Lizabett Russo and award-winning guitarist and composer Graeme Stephen.

Pascal Gallois (bassoon) In association with Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Lunchbreak Concerts

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1pm | The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen FREE

Sat 11 Nov

SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER

A lunchtime recital from one of the most prominent bassoon players in the world, Pascal Gallois.

György Kurtág................................................................... Pilinszky János: Gérard de Nerval Toshio Hosokawa............................................................................................................ Sen VII György Kurtág................................................................................ Kroó György in memoriam Berio....................................................................................................................... Sequenza XII

The Garden

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photo: Mihaela Bodlovic

2.30pm & 4.30pm | The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc) Zinnie Harris (words) John Harris (music)

Based on an original short play of the same name by Zinnie Harris, commissioned by the Traverse Theatre in 2009 and winning a Scotsman Fringe First Award, this new operatic version was commissioned by soundfestival and premiered to critical acclaim in Aberdeen in 2012. The Garden has since toured to Edinburgh, London, Germany and Shanghai and we're delighted to see it return to Aberdeen this year!

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SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER

Sat 11 Nov

Mozart vs Machine

In association with Aberdeen Performing Arts

6pm | The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc) A Mahogany Opera Group production developed through Mahogany's Various Stages programme with generous support from Sound and Music.

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Mozart vs Machine is a high-octane mashup of Mozart opera, electronic sound and video, bringing some of history’s most iconic artists together in a theatrical sci-figameshow encounter.

Alone in his Manhattan research laboratory, Raymond Scott, the father of electronic music, is developing a machine to generate random musical patterns. When one of his devices accidentally tears a hole in the universe it distorts time and brings him face to face with classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mozart vs Machine is an irreverent collage of music and theatre that blurs boundaries of opera and performance art.

Think you know Mozart? Think again…

Keep an eye on our website www.sound-scotland.co.uk for forthcoming details of pop-up operas across Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire today Sat 11 Nov!

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Créations sans frontière: Franco-Scottish musical twinning

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In association with Musiques Démesurées

Sat 11 Nov

SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER

With Marion Barbier (flutes), Maxime Echardour (percussion), Juliet Fraser (voice), Jonathan Kightley (viola), Alexandre Peronny (cello), Lesley Wilson (bassoon).

8pm | The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen £10, £5 (conc) *Co-commissioned by sound and Musiques Démesurées with support from La Ville de Clermont-Ferrand, Aberdeen City Council's Twinning Programme and Diaphonique, Franco-British fund for contemporary music in partnership with the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, the Sacem, the British Council, the French Ministry of Culture, the Bureau Export, the Institut français and the Friends of the French Institute Trust.

This cross-border residency project developed by sound and Musiques Démesurées has given French and Scottish musicians the opportunity to work collaboratively with composers Stéphane Magnin (France) and John De Simone (Scotland) and contemporary musical experts Juliet Fraser and Maxime Echardour to develop new works for this unusual combination of instruments. soundconversation following concert

Stéphane Magnin................................................................................................ New Work* UKP John De Simone.................................................................................................. New Work* UKP Frédéric Pattar.................................................................................................................. Tresse Georges Aperghis .............................................................................. Monomanies (selection) Matthew Shlomowitz....................................................... Letter Piece #4 'Adams, Blackburn, Camomile, Djibouti & Eurohound' & Letter Piece #5 'Northern Cities'

soundfestival closing event 9pm | The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen £5 ( FREE to ticket holders of Créations sans frontière) Join us after the final concert of the festival at an informal closing event in the company of Pascal Gallois, Maxime Echardour (performing Peter Ablinger’s Weiss Weisslich) and Juliet Fraser (singing Cathy Berberian’s Stripsody) and more. photo: Dimitri Djuric

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Participate

Participate Participation, exploration and education are at the heart of sound’s mission. Some of the following opportunities are part of soundgeneration, a programme of contemporary music workshops and events for young people. Visit sound-scotland.co.uk/participate for more information. Contact admin@sound-scotland.co.uk for all details and bookings.

SUNDAY 15-TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER

Go Compose!

In association with Red Note Ensemble and Sound and Music.

The Barn, Banchory | £55 Application deadline: Fri 8 Sep (accommodation available on request) Places limited to 15 so apply now!

Go Compose! is a 3-day composition course for young composers and creative musicians aged 14-19 and in full time education. It’s a unique opportunity to work with professional composers John de Simone and Eleanor Alberga and musicians from Red Note Ensemble. You will create your own original piece of music which will be performed on 17 October, and you will receive a recording of your performed work.

TIMETABLE Sun 15 Oct 11am-6.30pm followed by Tasmin Little (violin) concert at The Barn, 7pm (see p. 29) Mon 16 Oct 10am-5pm Tue 17 Oct 10am-5pm with a performance at 6pm

If you are enthusiastic about writing music and keen to try out new ideas, then this is the course for you!

With support from D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, David and June Gordon Memorial Trust and Aberdeen Endowments Trust.

SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER

Q & A with Tasmin Little (violin) 3.15pm | The Barn, Banchory FREE

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Tasmin Little will lead an animated discussion on new writing for violin prior to her evening performance at 7pm.

See p. 28 for evening details.

An open rehearsal: new music for bassoon 7pm | Phoenix Centre, Newton Dee FREE

We would like to invite you to an open rehearsal and discussion with musicians performing a one-of-a-kind concert the following day featuring 8 bassoonists brought together by professional bassoonist Lesley Wilson. See p. 15 for event details.

Participate

FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER

TUESDAY 7 NOVEMBER

The Organ in Contemporary Music Today Christian Wilson and Roger B. Williams lead a discussion on the role of the organ in new and avant garde music. Examples from their recitals today (see pp. 18-19) will be featured in addition to Ligeti's iconic, ground-breaking work, Volumina.

2.30-4.30pm | King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen FREE

The interface of pipe organ and electronic and acousmatic music will be discussed, as will the practicalities of new notational requirements. The discussion will address the challenges of both performer and listener, when facing ever-expanding aural and aesthetic experiences. Each performer will lead with a short statement and after which free discussion is welcomed.

SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER

Composers’ Day: composing for opera and bassoon 11am-4pm | The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen £10

photo: Azzurra Primavera

Take part in this year’s Composers’ Day which will feature writing for our endangered instrument the bassoon and for small-scale opera. There will be talks, workshops and one-to-one sessions with our featured composers on the day, Benedict Mason and Errollyn Wallen. The aim of the day is to give composers the opportunity to improve their technical skills for contemporary writing for bassoon / opera and to develop new compositional ideas.

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surroundsound

P.S. surroundsound New music events happening just before or after the festival!

SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER

Ceramic Instrument Making Workshop with Kevin Andrew Morris Promoted by Grampian Hospitals Art Trust 2-4pm | The Suttie Arts Space, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary FREE

Limited to 10 spaces Email fraser.macdonald@nhs.net for bookings.

Lewis Dunsmore

Promoted by Woodend Music Society 3pm | The Barn, Banchory £12 full / £10 senior citizens / £5 students in fte, u18 and Jobseekers Tickets available from www.thebarnarts.co.uk / 01330 825431 RCS graduate Lewis Dunsmore has performed in venues and festivals throughout Britain including Glasgow Minimal, where he played Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint in the presence of the composer. He has also performed with Red Note Ensemble and the BBC SSO. Ross will perform music by Bach, Ponce, Albeniz and a new work by Richard Greer.

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Artist Kevin Andrew Morris explores the history of making ceramic instruments while leading you through the construction of a range of these instruments. You will have the opportunity to develop your own modern variations and innovations and the instruments you make will be incorporated into an intimate performance by Mark Lyken at Belmont Filmhouse (see p. 14).

Workshop participants attend the performance at Belmont Filmhouse for free, and take instruments home afterwards.

An exhibition of new work by the artists is on display at The Suttie Arts Space (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary) from Sat 14 Oct-Sun 10 Dec.

surroundsound photo: Red Note Ensemble by Wattie Cheung

SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER

TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER

Tasmin Little (violin)

Red Note Ensemble

Promoted by Woodend Music Society 7pm | The Barn, Banchory £12, £10 (conc), £5 students, U18 and job seekers Tickets available from www.thebarnarts.co.uk / 01330 825431 Tasmin Little has firmly established herself as one of today's leading international violinists. This concert is part of her 2017 Scottish Tour. The programme includes Bach’s Chaconne from D minor Partita and Loure, Gavotte and Gigue from Bach’s E major Partita, Telemann, Albeniz, Ysaÿe's Ballade and Roxanna Panufnik’s Hora Bessarabia.

6pm | The Barn, Banchory £5 Listen to the future of new music! Red Note Ensemble premiere new works by young composers taking part in Go Compose!, a 3-day composition course (see p. 26 for more details).

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soundbytes Investing in the future of new music New music is vital, not just to musicians and audiences, but for the ongoing development of our extraordinary and uniquely blossoming UK culture. Let's try and make sure we maintain the world leading status we have for this rather than let it be another casualty of a previously ambitious and far-sighted country.

Graham Fitkin, composer Enabling composers to create new music is a crucial part of what we do at sound.

advantages and most importantly, you will have supported an established or emerging composer to create new music.

If you would like to share in the thrill of bringing a piece of new music into the world you can join us and others to invest in the commissioning of both established and emerging composers.

Examples of commissions to date include new work from Graham Fitkin, John de Simone, Sally Beamish, Snorri SigfĂşs Birgisson and Lu McClintock.

Through our new soundbytes initiative you can invest in the future of new music from ÂŁ10/month. In return, you will receive a number of unique, non-financial

We also invite you to support composition opportunities for young people including Go Compose!, an annual 3-day composition course.

Find out more To find out about all current commissions and to invest online please visit our website: www.sound-scotland.co.uk/soundbytes.

Email admin@sound-scotland.co.uk or phone 01330 826526 if you would like more information about soundbytes and a sign up form.

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Please note: soundbytes are not investments for the purpose of the Financial Services Act 1986.

MUSIC | THEATRE | FILM VISUAL ARTS | DANCE LIVE SCREENINGS | EVENTS t: 01330 825431 | w: www.thebarnarts.co.uk

N E E D R E B A S L A V I T S E F Now in its fourth year, Aberdeen Festivals represents 11 of the region’s major cultural, science and heritage festivals during 2017.

The festivals in the group work alongside each other to collaborate on artistic programming, performances and growing audiences helping to strengthen the region’s cultural and festivals sector.

Aberdeen Festivals is made up of some of the biggest, best and most diverse festivals Scotland has to offer. Its current members are: SPECTRA, Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Look Again, May Festival, Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Aberdeen International Youth Festival, TechFest, North East Open Studios, True North, DanceLive and soundfestival.

For more information about Aberdeen Festivals visit: www.aberdeenfestivals.com

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Maps

14 Portlethen

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Aberdeen Citadel 28 Castle Street Aberdeen AB11 5BG

2 Aberdeen Maritime

Museum Shiprow Aberdeen AB11 5BY

3 The Anatomy Rooms

Marischal College Shoe Lane Aberdeen AB10 1YS

4

Basement Studio Theatre North East Scotland College Aberdeen City Campus Gallowgate Aberdeen AB25 1BN

5 Belmont Filmhouse

49 Belmont Street Aberdeen AB10 1JS 6 Butchart Recreation

Centre University of Aberdeen University Rd Aberdeen AB24 3UT

7 The Blue Lamp

Aberdeen 121 Gallowgate Aberdeen AB25 1BU

8 The Bothy

Glenbuchat Village Hall Strathdon AB36 8UA

16 St Andrew’s Cathedral

28 King Street Aberdeen AB24 5AX

9 King’s College Chapel

17 St Machar’s Cathedral

10 The Lemon Tree

18 The Salmon Bothy

11 Logie Coldstone

19 The Suttie Arts Space

High Street Aberdeen AB24 3UB

5 West North Street Aberdeen AB24 5AT Village Hall Logie Coldstone Aboyne AB34 5PQ

12 MacDuff Marine

Aquarium 11 High Shore Macduff AB44 1SL

Information – maps

Venues 18, The Chanonry Aberdeen AB24 1RQ Links Road Portsoy AB45 2SS

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZN

20 The Barn

Banchory AB31 5QA

13 Monymusk Arts Centre

Monymusk Inverurie AB51 7HJ 14 Phoenix Centre

Newton Dee Village Bieldside Aberdeen AB15 9DX 15 The Royal Deeside

Railway Milton of Crathes Banchory AB31 5QH

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To join our mailing list, please email us at info@sound-scotland.co.uk or write to us at sound, c/o The Barn, Banchory AB31 5QA Patrons: Dame Evelyn Glennie DBE, Sir James MacMillan CBE and Rohan de Saram

www.sound-scotland.co.uk

soundscotland

@soundscotland

@soundfestival