Archive for the Whales Category

Bowheads, performed by the Kapten Trio

Bowheads, performed by the Kapten Trio

Last year I was commissioned to write a piece for the Kapten Trio by Chamber Music Scotland. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, with lots of discussions and rehearsals with the Kapten Trio throughout the creative process, and two amazing Creative Scotland residencies at Hospitalfield in Arbroath. My piece, called Bowheads, is based on songs of the Bowhead Whale. (Thanks to biologists Catherine Berchok and Stephanie Grassia for sharing recordings with me!) The Kapten Trio took Boweads (along with pieces by Shiori Usui, Mozart, Debussy, and Brahms) on a 6-concert tour of Scotland. This video (made by Anne Milne) is from the premiere, at the Barn in Banchory, as part of the Sound Festival.

Social sounds from whales at night

I’m pleased to share not one, but two wonderful recent performances of Social sounds from whales at night, one by clarinettist and whale researcher Alex South, and one by violist Katherine Wren. This is my only piece (so far) which includes electronics, and can be performed by any solo instrument or voice. It includes a lengthy improvisatory section, and I’ve really enjoyed hearing different performers interpretations of it over the years!