Lorimer Productions and Historic Environment Scotland present Echoes and Traces: a world-premiere tour of eight new choral works written by eight Scottish composers, developed in response to Nobilis Humilis, a 900 year old plain-song fragment from Orkney that celebrates St Magnus.
World-renowned choral group Cappella Nova will be performing seven concerts across the length and breadth of the country; hugely committed to supporting Scottish contemporary composers and recognised for the quality of their performances of new music. The support of Historic Environment Scotland enables the music to tour to some of Scotland’s most stunning historic venues and sites: Dunfermline Abbey, Stirling Castle, Glasgow Cathedral, Duff House and Iona Abbey, as well as concerts in Greyfriar’s Kirk in Edinburgh and St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney.
The commissioned composers includes those working within contemporary classical, folk, electronica and world-music genres, so as to best represent the wealth of compositional talent currently in Scotland: Sally Beamish, Rory Boyle, Stuart MacRae, Savourna Stevenson, Aidan O’Rourke, Ailie Robertson, Matthew Whiteside and Hanna Tuulikki.
The concerts will be presented by John Purser, one of Scotland’s most important cultural ambassadors, and a familiar voice to those that have enjoyed his many BBC Radio appearances over the last 30 years.
“We are so privileged to live in a country with an enormous wealth of music, both past and present. We are thrilled to bring Scotland’s brightest and best composers to the fore with this project, and to bring innovative new choral music to the length and breadth of the country.” – Ailie Robertson, Artistic Director
