A very quick blog this week just to let you know that preorders of our new digital album, On A Wing and A Prayer – Reflections on Deeside’s changing habitat are now open on Bandcamp here. Order now and be amongst the first to download the album on release day, 6th February. You’ll also be able to download our preview track now.
It couldn’t have been a more appropriate week to introduce our new album to the world, as conditions in the Cairngorms were exactly the same as when Pete and Joe Stollery and I were on residency in Braemar last year and perfectly matched our pre-release track, The New Bridge – Frozen Solitude. Have a listen here:
Album launch events
Remember that you can hear music live from the album and also meet Pete, Joe and I at our launch event in Aberdeen on 6th February and at Stirling on 8th February, where there will be a full performance. I loved performing this music at its premiere in Banchory last year. It was such a powerful experience to perform as a solo violist surrounded by Pete’s spatial interpretation of field recordings from the Cairngorms on 8 speakers enveloping the audience, from the frozen, tranquil beauty of The New Bridge – Frozen Solitude, to the terrifying and overwhelming sounds of the rivers Dee and Quoich in full spate.
2 Violas in Iceland
Another track from the album, -the new forest- by Scottish-Icelander Charles Ross will be receiving its Icelandic premiere on 23rd January at Slátarhúsið in Egilsstaðir in a programme of improvised and semi-written music inspired by the Icelandic forest Hallormstaðar.
Charles and I have previously performed together as The 2 Violas in Mengi (Reykjavík), Bláakirkjan (Seyðisfjörður) and Egilsstaðir. There’s always a special bit of magic improvising with Charles, extending the range of sound we can draw from our violas and it’s an absolute honour to take -the new forest- “home” following its performance in Nordic Music Days last November.
You’ll have to wait till release day to hear my performance of the piece, but in the meantime, here’s Charles own, very visceral performance of it:
Pete, Joe and I very much hope you’ll be able to share in our beautiful new album by downloading it and listening at home or by coming to our live events. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you. And remember you can keep up to date by subscribing here:
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