This second major cross-border residency project developed by sound and Musiques Démesurées has given French and Scottish musicians the opportunity to work collaboratively with composers Stéphane Magnin (France) and John De Simone (Scotland) and contemporary musical experts Juliet Fraser (voice) and Maxime Echardour (percussion).
Two musicians from each of the twinned towns of Aberdeen and Clermont-Ferrand were chosen: Lesley Wilson (bassoon) and Jonathan Kightley (viola), both from Aberdeen and Marion Barbier (flute) and Alexandre Peronny (cello) from Clermont-Ferrand.
The composers started writing their pieces in July 2016, developing new works* for this unusual combination of instruments. A 3-day residency at the Newton Dee Community in Bieldside in February 2017 brought everybody together for the first time. During the residency each composer had a number of sessions with the musicians to work on their unfinished pieces. A public sharing sessions was held at the end of the residency.
The artists will meet again in Clermont-Ferrand to rehearse the finished pieces in November 2017. A world premiere will take place on 8th November as part of Musiques Démesurées in Clermont-Ferrand, followed by a UK premiere on 11th November in Aberdeen as part of soundfestival 2017.
*Co-commissioned by sound and Musiques Démesurées with support from La Ville de Clermont-Ferrand, Aberdeen City Council's Twinning Programme and Diaphonique, Franco-British fund for contemporary music in partnership with the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, the Sacem, the British Council, the French Ministry of Culture, the Bureau Export, the Institut français and the Friends of the French Institute Trust.
