Lines & Spaces Notes from St Mary’s Music School
Issue 3
Summer 2021
HIGH NOTES A place for new music Welcome to the Pianodrome Putting the fun in fundraising Beyond the school door … and more!
Contents A place for new music 2 Spotlight on… Elena-Fischer Dieskau 3 Two minutes with two musicians 3 The gift of music 4 Putting the fun in fundraising 4 What’s the score? 5 Primary school players 6 Beyond the school door 7
A place for new music Originally conceived by Paul Stubbings as a way to celebrate the School’s 50th anniversary in June 2023, The Seven Hills Project is now spreading musical waves across Scotland. Dr Valerie Pearson explains more about this joyful celebration of musical creativity and collaboration.
What’s the project’s inspiration and who’s become involved?
STOP PRESS!
SUMMER CONCERT GOES ONLINE This year’s summer concert is destined to be a variety of delights, combining a hint of Eastern promise with repertoire from Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky as well as the premiere of Theory of the Earth by Jay Capperauld, the first of The Seven Hills Project commissions.
Filmed in multiple locations with an audience of pupils and staff only, due to the restrictions in place, the final concert will be aired online on Webinarjam on July 2nd. If you miss it or would like to see it again, catch it on the School’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/stmarysmusicschoolscotland
Sign up for our e-newsletter! Keep up to date with everything that’s happening at St Mary’s Music School, including concerts, masterclasses, open days, auditions and advisory auditions, by signing up to receive our regular e-newsletter at www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/sign-up
1
The project was initially inspired by the School’s desire to celebrate Edinburgh as the wonderful home of our music making through the topography of its seven hills and the way they connect culture, community and heritage. Importantly, the project was also seen as an opportunity to commission new music, something that the School hasn’t done in a while, and for our own students to perform these new pieces. We invited Alexander McCall Smith to compose seven poems, one for each hill, and then we invited seven composers, each with a close link to the school, to write a piece inspired by the hill and the poem. Alexander introduced us to Ryan Rutherford, a young filmmaker, who created cinematographic films for each of the hills, and the illustrator, Ian McIntosh, who created fantastic logos for each of the seven hills.
Does performing new music pose any challenges for the School’s pupils? Our senior students are at a stage where they’re experimenting with their playing and the sounds they’re producing in standard repertoire. They haven’t established their specialisms yet as professional players so every path is open to them and it’s exciting to see them respond to pieces which are not traditionally structured. Jay Capperauld is the composer of Theory of the Earth, a piece inspired by Arthur’s Seat and the first to be performed. From the outset, he and I had conversations about which students would be best suited to play his composition, and what would be manageable for them. It’s a bit like Stravinsky starting off his violin concerto by working with Dushkin to see what was possible! Nobody in the world knows how Theory of the Earth should sound, we’re giving the very first version of the piece, which is incredibly exciting, so it’s vital that we have Jay’s insight and input. The piece doesn’t follow a straightforward score – there are lots of places where the parts have no shared pulse and are working independently, so it’s been really good fun working with the pupils to help them coordinate their response. Despite lockdown restrictions, it’s been a true collaboration. I’ve been recording rehearsals and sending files to Jay and he came into the School for a final rehearsal before
we broadcast the piece. I think if you present a lot of new music together it can make it difficult to create a frame of reference, so each composition will premiere individually, over our end-of-term concerts between now and June 2023.
“St Mary’s Music School has very clear connections with professional music organisations across Scotland, but the bigger picture of our outreach work is engaging young people. If audiences can see our students performing this new music, what better inspiration for young musicians across Scotland?” What will the project’s impact be, for the School, for Scotland, for music? We want to promote new music in Scotland, to celebrate music and creativity and, ultimately, to use creativity as a way of engaging young people with new music. Next academic year, we’ll run composition workshops with Higher and Advanced Higher Music pupils in regions across Scotland. Jay Capperauld will lead the workshops and pupils will be encouraged to compose new pieces inspired by a topographical feature or historical building in their own region, which our own pupils will then perform. It’s about creating something that has resonance with individual identities and means that there will be satellite ‘Seven Hills’ projects taking place all around Scotland. Our website will be a platform not just for the School, but for all sorts of hill and community groups to use. We need to take a project inspired by the seven hills out of the concert hall so we’re exploring ways to bring events to the hills – not only live, but digitally too, perhaps using QR codes. Just imagine if you could tap into listen to Jay Capparauld’s Theory of the Earth as you’re out walking on Arthur’s Seat? Jay Capperauld & Arthur’s Seat | Online, 2nd July 2021 Tom David Wilson & Blackford Hill | St Cuthbert’s Church, 13th December 2021 Neil Tòmas Smith & Calton Hill | St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 23rd March 2022 Helen Grime & Braid Hills | Queen’s Hall, 27th June 2022 Ailie Robertson & Craiglockhart Hill | Venue TBC, October 2022 Simon Smith & Corstorphine Hill | St Cuthbert’s Church, December 2022 David Horne & Castle Rock | St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, March 2023 Sir James MacMillan | 50th Birthday Celebrations | Usher Hall, June 2023
2
Spotlight on… Elena-Fischer Dieskau
Two minutes with two musicians
On 25th June, Delphian Records released a new recording of Schumann Kreisleriana, Brahms Two Rhapsodies, Op.79 and Brahms Seven Fantasies, Op. 116 by concert pianist and keyboard faculty member, Elena Fischer-Dieskau.
Two pupils take two minutes to talk about what they play, what they love most about being a musician, their favourite music and composers, and their musical highights (so far!).
Elena, was this repertoire something you have always wanted to play? “Indeed, this repertoire speaks to me in a special way, as it is extraordinarily versatile, deep and complex. It has the capacity to offer a listening experience filled with an infinite range of layered and powerful emotions. I had a very clear and precise vision of what I wanted to say with these pieces in particular and how I wanted to interpret them. This vision grew, shaped and developed over time. I recorded these pieces in the middle of the lockdown period and feel as though isolation allowed me to dive particularly deeply into the preparation of this album. It felt like the right time.” When did your love of piano first begin? “I first started playing piano when I was six years old. I grew up with a musical background and have always been surrounded by music. We had a piano at home and I remember being incredibly drawn to it and fascinated by the instrument from a young age. Playing the piano has been the number one priority in my mind for as long as I can remember.” As well as your concert career you also teach here – what draws you to teaching? “It is such a rewarding feeling to inspire and infuse others with the things you are most passionate about. Teaching in a place where everyone is so committed and so in love with music allows me to do this on a regular basis with talented young musicians. It is both an enriching and fulfilling experience.” You have lived in many different places, what inspires you most about living in Edinburgh? “I have to say, what I love most about living in Edinburgh at the moment is its seven hills that you can climb on a daily basis. Doesn’t that sound straight out of a fairytale? They all offer absolutely breathtaking views. Being able to connect with peaceful nature in the middle of a city is a true privilege. This city also possesses a mystical charm; I find it hauntingly beautiful.”
3
John (S4) from Edinburgh, Scotland I’ve been playing Alto Saxophone for six years now. I played the recorder first so I’d say the saxophone was a natural move and I like the really wide range of styles available. I enjoy playing jazz the most – having the freedom to improvise – although I do play classical pieces too. I like Stan Getz – he’s got a really neat sound and his compositions are quite unique. I play the piano too and I really like Debussy – out of the classical composers, I think he’s closest to jazz – his compositions are really rich and creative. Playing in groups is always a highlight – the sax ensemble did a gig in Galashiels which was fun. Playing in a group is always enjoyable, every time a new person joins, you increase what you can do.
Amelia (S6) from Glasgow, Scotland Piano is my first study but I also play the guitar, clarinet and saxophone. I started playing the piano in P3. I enjoy the way that music allows you to express yourself in different ways, not just with words. It gets you involved with people with common interests. There are so many different types of music and each instrument offers different possibilities – I’m very curious, always wanting to hear more. For piano, I like Ravel and Debussy. Debussy is mysterious and expressive – intriguing, less obvious so more open to your own expression and interpretation. My musical highlight is having my perspective of music changed by Gillian Daley, my previous teacher. She moved it away from just being about working through grades and really opened my eyes. Coming to the Piano Summer School in 2019 was another highlight of course, which inspired me to audition for the School.
The gift of music The fullest extent of our work is only made possible through the generous philanthropy of trusts, foundations, organisations and individuals. Their support enables us to enrich the music experience we offer our students, recruit exceptional teachers and share our music making as widely as possible through our outreach and engagement programme. The only way is Steinway
Inspiring philanthropic gifts from supporters of our All Steinway School Campaign have made the purchase and delivery of three Steinway Boston Upright pianos possible this year. In fact, just before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the School had planned an event and concert to draw attention to the need to upgrade our rehearsal pianos. Many hours and indeed years of practice had taken their toll and ten of these musical workhorses needed to be replaced with some urgency. Thanks to the Witherby Publishing Group Charitable Trust, who helped to launch our appeal, and to the generosity of the Penpont Charitable Trust, and to Sally May and Robin Angus who dedicated a piano in memory of their mother Sally Angus, our campaign got off to a great start. We’re delighted to announce that Harriet Lyall, a dedicated supporter of the School, is also our most recent piano appeal supporter. The new piano we will be able to buy as a result of her gift will replace the upright Harriet had previously loaned to the School. Very fittingly, having reached the end of its natural life, it will now be “upcycled” by the Pianodrome charity into one of their sculptural installations. If you would like to contribute to the Steinway campaign or make a gift of a piano, please contact the Advancement Office on advancement@st-marys-music-school.co.uk or telephone the school for more information.
Putting the fun in fundraising Under the leadership of Eve Boulos, Head of School, our pupils have come up with various ways to raise funds for The Seven Hills Project. So far, this has including a non-uniform day with pupils paying £1 to come to school in casual clothes, the not-tobe missed opportunity to hurl wet sponges at Dr Taylor, a cake sale and the ever-popular guess the number of sweets in the jar. In keeping with the emphasis on health and wellbeing promoted within our school community, the Seven Hills Pupil Challenge sees pupils seeking sponsorship to walk or run 14 miles (the combined distance of the Seven Hills of Edinburgh) or cycle 70km (43.5 miles) in under a week. Finally, a concert of solo recitals will be filmed and presented on YouTube. As well as providing an opportunity to invite viewers to donate online, this is a welcome opportunity (with Covid restrictions still affecting live performance) for pupils to share the music they have been working on this term.
Lady Clyde Memorial Service We were honoured to play at the memorial service for Lady Clyde, which took place at St Mary’s Cathedral in June. Lady Clyde was a great supporter of the School and it was a privilege for our String Orchestra and the Choristers of the Cathedral Choir to be part of this very special service.
Please help our pupils put the fun in fundraising by visiting https://www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/support-us/the-seven-hills-challenge-2021/ and making a donation.
4
What’s the score?
Welcome to the Pianodrome
It’s not every day that our pupils perform in an amphitheatre made entirely of upcycled pianos but in May, Neil, Eve, Cliodhna and Pavlina (all S6) headed to the Pianodrome in Granton to do exactly that.
A charitable organisation set up in 2016, Pianodrome CIC, according to its founders (and bandmates) Tim Vincent-Smith and Matthew Wright, was conceived to “create participatory, community-centred sculptures, made entirely from otherwise disused pianos. As part of a large network of makers, artists, performers and volunteers, we articulate the structure we build through festivals, one-off events and educational experiences.” In August 2018, the 100-seater Pianodrome installed at the Botanic Gardens for the Fringe attracted 18,000 visitors, critical acclaim and international recognition. The Pianodrome in Edinburgh has become an iconic symbol of community and cultural resilience in Scotland’s capital. Over 100 volunteers helped to build and run the project so we were delighted that Neil, Eve, Cliodhna and Pavlina could take part in the Pianodrome Sessions – a series of short, intimate one-off performances from local and travelling artists, filmed and broadcast on YouTube. The Sessions will be aired over the summer with Eve and Neil, both saxophonists, playing a jazz set of their own compositions, Cliodhna playing Telemann and Frank Martin on the flute, accompanied by John Cameron, and Pavlina playing Rachmaninov and Beethoven. The session is likely to be the first of many and we are delighted to be working closely with the Pianodrome team to develop opportunities for outreach and engagement with other school children and members of the local community.
“Pianos are made from a host of interesting materials and possess their own exotic shapes, colouring and character. Every piano is an individual work of art, so it is wonderful that in this very unique and special place, abandoned pianos are gifted a second life. It creates a magical atmosphere.” John Cameron, Assistant Director of Music and Head of Keyboard
Celebrating Celebrity 6
It was another star-studded term in which we welcomed… Arve Henriksen, the renowned Norwegian trumpeter and composer, who is currently working on his tenth album. Arve’s flute-like sound is inspired by the Japanese shakuhachi flute. | Stephen Hough, named by The Economist as one of ‘Twenty Living Polymaths’. Stephen combines distinguished careers as a pianist, a composer and a writer. | Manuel Barrueco, the Grammy-nominated Cuban classical guitarist, hailed as a ‘major artist with a remarkable musicianship’ by the Los Angeles Times and a ‘superior musician’ by the New York Times. | Sir Antonio Pappano, Music Director of both the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome and (recently announced) the next Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. | Judith Weir, a celebrated composer and, since 2014, the first female Master of the Queen’s Music. Alina Ibragimova, the Russian/British violinist described as ‘one of today’s outstanding interpreters of the most elemental music in the repertoire’ by The Guardian. Alina has played with leading orchestras including Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra. For the full Celebrity 6 Guest List visit https://www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/event/celebrity-6-series
5
Competition Results
Up for debate
Shutter speed
Primary school players
Summer term is competition time and we saw a large number of entries for the Junior Recital Prize (JRP), Intermediate Recital Prize (IRP) and Senior Directors’ Recital Prize (DRP). Congratulations to all who took part. The winners of the JRP and IRP were Michelle (piano) and Hester (violin), while the winner of the DRP was Layla (cello). This year’s judges were Jo Buckley, a Director of St Mary’s Music School and Chief Executive of Dunedin Consort; Bill Chandler, Director of Concerts and Engagement, Royal Scottish National Orchestra; and James Waters, Director of the Lammermuir Festival, Creative Director Classical Music at Perth Concert Hall and Joint Artistic Director of the Bath Festival. Accompanists were Elena Fischer-Dieskau and Simon Smith, while Cliodhna (S6) played in the intermission. The final took place at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh on 16th June and was live-streamed onto YouTube.
John and Carlo (both S4) launched a photography competition that’s open to everyone, from primary pupils to the teaching staff. Each week has seen a new theme emerge, from ‘reflection’ to ‘snow’, with some themes attracting over 30 entries. Oli (S3), a five-times winner, told us: “It has sparked creativity and has been a great way to get into the depths of nature.” Why not give it a go?
Singing and starring
A digital first Our String Ensemble and seven of our pianists headed to Pianodrome in June to record an arrangement of several of the movements from Grieg’s Holberg Suite. They were filmed by Neil and Amelia (both S6) who are keen on developing their digital skills and the collaboration was edited to become part of the Summer Concert, aired on 2nd July. You can find out more at https://www.pianodrome.org and subscribe to Pianodrome’s Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5O_ Di2BDyDS9QDetQRYyqw
Not only have our choristers been able to sing in public again, in their first live service at St Mary’s Cathedral for many months, they also featured in a new film, currently in production. The Lost King, starring Steve Coogan, follows the story of the discovery of Richard III’s grave in a Leicester car park in 2012.
Congratulations to…
Cliodhna (S6) (flute), who was a finalist in the Young Musicians’ Platform, part of The Bromsgrove International Musicians’ Competition, and Alexander (S6) who was one of three young composers chosen by the St Andrews Voices Festival to have their piece workshopped by Voces8. Alexander’s composition, When you are old, is inspired by the poem by WB Yeats.
Green fingers
Enthusiastic pupils are busy in the greenhouse and the grounds as part of the new Gardening Club set up by Ms Holm. Stars of the show this term include kale, radishes, coriander, basil and various salad leaves.
On 16th June, Alexander (S3) and Benjamin (S2) took part in the final of the COPFS (Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service) Public Speaking Competition. They competed against two other schools, in front of the Lord Advocate and a panel of judges, on the topic ‘If I were the Scottish Minister for Equalities, the most pressing inequality I would tackle, post-pandemic, is…’ This followed a successful round against Cardinal Newman High School on ‘Gender has had its day’ in the semi-finals, with Alexander and Benjamin convincing the judges that gender was no longer required as a primary defining characteristic.
Since the beginning of June, our Primary pupils have been rehearsing The Angel of Nitshill Road, a play byAnne Fine that tells the story of a nasty class bully called Barry Hunter and his comeuppance. When a new student, Celeste, witnesses Barry tormenting his fellow students, she decides to take action. Every time Barry is unkind, his nasty deeds are written down by Celeste in a golden notebook that she brings to school, leading Marigold, one of Barry’s victims, to speculate that Celeste is a ‘recording angel’. With Celeste’s help, the class begin to stand up together against Barry and learn to fight for what is right. Diya and Klara (both P7) quizzed Ethan on how he tackled playing the class bully. How did you feel about playing such an unpleasant character? Well, I am not mean in real life, but I’ve always thought that an actor is really good if they can play mean and aggressive characters, so I wanted to bring that out. How do you learn and practice your lines? A technique I use when learning lines is doing them as often as possible – in bed, in the shower, when I’m brushing my teeth. Why did you want to play Barry? I knew how important the character was to the play and I wanted to test my skills by being mean and full of a nasty attitude! Have you had much experience in acting? I used to go to acting clubs and I would love to get into acting when I’m older.
6
Beyond the school door…
St Mary’s Music School opened its door to the first instrumental pupils in 1972. In those early days there were just four young musicians, John Doig, Rosalind Ferguson, James Robertson and Sharon Nye, who joined the choristers for lessons held at Old Coates House. Today the School has over 700 alumni around the world. With our 50th anniversary fast approaching in the academic year 2022/23, we want to connect and reconnect with all our former pupils so that they can join in our celebrations at the Usher Hall on 26th June 2023; we also want to provide a platform where alumni can keep in touch and share their news, announcements, photos and events. We are therefore delighted to introduce Alumni Connect, a new online website and portal, where alumni can do just that! If you are a former instrumentalist or chorister or both, or know anyone who is, please head along to https://stmarysmusic.ptly.uk/ and register your details. We hope this is just the start of something big.
… and out in the world •
The Carsaig Quartet, with alumnus Findlay Spence on cello, has been selected as Kirckman Artists in 2021-22 and is set to make its major London debut later in the year. (The Kirckman Concert Society promotes young artists of exceptional talent.) You can see the Quartet perform at the Chipping Campden Chamber Music Festival, Conway Hall and Romsey Chamber Music Festival as well as the Holywell Music Room. The players have been re-invited for a major residency in association with the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival.
• Finn Mannion was invited to take part in the Scandinavian Cello School led by Jacob Shaw https://www.scandinaviancelloschool.com/ • Emily Hoile (harp) has just released her first CD Ballade, which includes original music for harp by Alfredo Casella and Albert Zabel. The CD also explores keyboard works from Bach to Debussy in new interpretations for the harp. https://www.emilyhoile.com/ •
The Castalian Quartet, which includes alumnus Daniel Roberts (violin), has been busy recording for BBC In Tune as well as playing Janáček and Dvořák at Saffron Hall, Wigmore Hall and East Neuk Festival.
•
The Maxwell Quartet, featuring alumni Duncan Strachan (cello) and Colin Scobie (violin), launched their new album – Joseph Haydn String Quartets Op. 74 and Folk Music from Scotland – described as: “The follow-up to our first CD of Haydn Opus 71, the disc features the great set of Haydn’s Opus 74 quartets, plus folk music from eighteenth-century Scotland as reimagined by ourselves for string quartet.”
• Philip Higham (currently with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra) and Helen Grime both featured on BBC Radio 3’s Scotland Week, with Philip (cello) teaming up with Maria Wloscczowska (violin) and Alasdair Beatson (piano) to play Helen’s Three Whistler Miniatures inspired by three portraits by the American artist, James McNeill Whistler. • Alexander Armstrong has been appointed Ambassador of Cathedral Music Trust https://www.cathedralmusictrust.org.uk/ • Steven Osborne (piano) celebrated his 50th birthday with a concert at the Wigmore Hall, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 12th March. • Singer songwriter Daisy Chute will be launching her new album, Songs of Solace, in London on 4th November. • Tallulah Molleson (voice, saxophone) released her first EP Rise in June.
Follow us
instagram.com/stmarys_music
facebook.com/stmarysmusicschool
twitter.com/stmarys_music
youtube/stmarysmusicschoolscotland
Sign up for our e-newsletter! Keep up to date with everything that’s happening at St Mary’s Music School, including concerts, masterclasses, open days, auditions and advisory auditions, by signing up to receive our regular e-newsletter at www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/sign-up
7
St Mary’s Music School Trust Ltd is a charity, number SC014611. Registered in Scotland 54504. Registered office: Coates Hall, 25 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5EL All images and text © St Mary’s Music School 2021 unless otherwise stated Design by IL Design | Words by Fiona Duncan & Allison Traynor | Photos: Tina Norris, Delphian Records, Robin Frowley, Fiona Duncan, Yvonne Jarron
