(Press release)
Top traditional
musicians Phil Cunningham, Julie Fowlis, Megan Henderson, and Michael
McGoldrick join the internationally acclaimed Scottish National Jazz
Orchestra in an exciting new adventure bringing Scotland’s myths and legends to
vibrant musical life.
Dragons, mermaids, fairy queens, ghosts, giants, goblins and sorcerers roam the Scottish soil and seas to a soundtrack composed by the orchestra’s director, saxophonist Tommy Smith and drawing on Scotland’s rich musical traditions.
Inspired by ancient
Scottish folklore, Tales of the Tribe will magnify and reveal
creatures of mythic proportion and explore Scotland's soul through music and
newly written poetry by four of Scotland’s foremost poets, Meg
Bateman, Christine De Luca, Peter MacKay, and Tom Pow.
“Scotland’s
traditions are full of fascinating stories that capture the imaginations of
people of all ages,” says Smith, who has worked on musical ideas with the
popular Gaelic singer and musician Julie Fowlis, star of the Disney Pixar
adventure soundtrack, the multi-million-dollar grossing Brave.
“I wanted to
present these tales in a way that made strong use of Scotland’s musical
heritage as well as the narratives to present the characters and creatures
realistically while appealing to families and lovers of traditional music and
big band jazz alike,” Smith adds.
Smith also has a
track record of working with traditional music. His solo saxophone concerts
draw on the songs of Robert Burns and the Gaelic psalm singing tradition which
he has experienced first-hand during numerous family visits to the Isle of
Lewis.
“The traditional
musicians we’re working with are among the leaders in their field,” says Smith.
“They are incredibly skilful, and we’ll be highlighting their skills and
spontaneity on accordion, whistle, fiddle, flute and more to create a natural
bond between traditional music and jazz.”
Julie Fowlis said:
“I’ve always had a fascination for creatures of the otherworld. These
characters and belief systems reveal a lot about our past and those who
have gone before. The Gaelic songs concerned with the supernatural so
often have outstanding melodies and stories, and so it’s no wonder they have
lasted the test of time. It’s an absolute pleasure to create a programme
of music with Tommy, the SNJO and my old friends Phil, Mike and Megan and I’m
really excited to bring this project to the stage."
Tales of the Tribe tours to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on May 12, Aberdeen Music Hall on May 13 and Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on May 14.
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