Introduction by Chris Stout & Catriona McKay

Möder Dy, in Shetland, means Mother Wave. It’s the ocean’s secret rhythm, an undercurrent that can guide the experienced seafarer home.

The Möder Dy is symbolic of the thread that runs through all of our duo music.

We are delighted to open the concert with ‘Seavaigers’, a concerto composed especially for us in 2012 by Sally Beamish. We love this music and it’s perfect to start the evening with a spectacular sea voyage!

Our own collection of music has been fully orchestrated by us and we are thrilled to perform the premiere with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and conductor James Lowe. Our music is inspired by the vast seascapes and majestic landscapes of our birthplaces, we believe it to be our most powerful music.

Joining us will be the world renowned singer songwriter Liam O’Maonlai from Ireland, poet Christie Williamson whose words have inspired much of the music you will hear, and the jewel in the Scottish music scene that is percussionist James Mackintosh.

We are so proud and honoured to be performing for you this evening with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, our poet and guest musicians, with James Lowe at the helm!

and the waves whisper sweet somethings, bringing you home to me
(from 'When Waves Whisper Sweet Somethings' by Christie Williamson)

PROGRAMME

Beamish Seavaigers

Stout & McKay Waves Whisper ‘Fond Kisses of Old Memories’

Liam Ó Maonlaí Traditional Irish song

Christie Williamson 'Waves Whisper Sweet Somethings' (poem)

Ó Maonlaí, Williamson, Stout & McKay Waves Whisper ‘When Waves Whisper Sweet Somethings’ (song)

Interval

Christie Williamson If You Find Love (poem)

Stout & McKay Waves Whisper ‘When Tides Meet’

Stout & McKay Glenshee

Stout & McKay Sair Fecht

SEAVAIGERS- Concerto for fiddle & harp by composer Sally Beamish

Strong emotions are always connected to dangerous journeys, and this piece reflects the anticipation, fear, comradeship and adventure of sea voyaging.

The first movement, Storm, begins with a shimmering dawn over the water before launching into a reel which becomes increasingly unsettled and harmonically dark, before resolving into optimism.

The Lament consists of one very simple melody, which repeats and overlaps with varying ornamentation, written and improvised.

The solo improvisations continue as the last movement - Haven - begins, steering a final exhilarated course towards home. Just before the end, the opening music returns, as if land is in sight.

WAVES WHISPER SWEET SOMETHINGS by Chris Stout & Catriona McKay

Music that takes a close listen to and exploration of the waves. Poet Christie Williamson tells us 'when the waves whisper sweet somethings'. Liam O’Maonlai sings 'fond kisses of old memories’.

Under the ninth earth
the land is lying down
the truth can't stand to lose you
wears your love like a crown

And the waves whisper sweet somethings
fond kisses of old memories
and the waves whisper sweet somethings
bringing you home to me

The circle squared the fathoms
of my heart and your art
the compass is turning atoms
into continents apart

And the waves whisper sweet somethings
fond kisses of old memories
and the waves whisper sweet somethings
bringing you home to me

the galaxies are shining
in the darkness of the night
the tides have turned to finding
love burning beyond our sight

And the waves whisper sweet somethings
fond kisses of old memories
and the waves whisper sweet somethings
bringing you home to me

all we are and all we never were
are running with the tides
all we dream and all we never dare
are fastening sky wide ties

And the waves whisper sweet somethings
fond kisses of old memories
and the waves whisper sweet somethings
bringing you home to me

GLENSHEE by Chris Stout & Catriona McKay

Glenshee is a one movement experience of the Perthshire ‘Fairy Glen’ - The Mountain Breathes /Shee Water/ Sing out loud on the telephone wire / The Standing Stone / Lay Lines /Glenshee.

The music represents the harsh but beautiful, majestic landscape. The sounds and rhythms we experience tell us the mountain continues to breathe. Assures us those who have been part of the mountain remain so through the flora and fauna and the deep heartbeat guiding us home.

to let love lift you high above yourself

high above the mountains high above the sea

(from 'If You Find Love' by Christie Williamson)

BIOGRAPHIES

Chris Stout & Catriona Mckay Violin and Scottish harp

Liam O Maonlaí Singer

Christie Williamson Poet

James Mackintosh Percussion

James Lowe Conductor

SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

1st Violin

• Jackie Shave
• Kana Kawashima
• Siún Milne
• Fiona Alexander
• Amira Bedrush-McDonald
• Cheryl Crockett
• Lorna McLaren
• Maria Vila

2nd Violin

• Marcus Barcham Stevens
• Rachel Smith
• Sarah Bevan Baker
• Abigail Young
• Niamh Lyons
• Gongbo Jiang

Viola

• Gary Pomeroy
• Jessica Beeston
• Brian Schiele
• Steve King

Cello

• Philip Higham
• Su-a Lee
• Donald Gillan
• Eric de Wit

Bass

• Nikita Naumov
• Adrian Bornet

Flute

• André Cebrián
• Lee Holland

Piccolo

• André Cebrián

Oboe

• Robin Williams
• Katherine Bryer

Cor Anglais

• Katherine Bryer

Clarinet

• Peter Furniss
• Lawrence Gill

Bass Clarinet

• Lawrence Gill

Saxophone

• Martin Kershaw
• Bill Fleming

Bassoon

• Cerys Ambrose-Evans
• Alison Green

Contrabassoon

• Alison Green

Horn

• James Pillai
• Andy Saunders

Trumpet

• Peter Franks
• Shaun Harrold

Trombone

• Nigel Cox

Timpani

• Louise Lewis Goodwin

Percussion

• Iain Sandilands
• Colin Hyson
• Alasdair Kelly