November 2015

The second performance of our poetry/music/images project 'Turning the Elements' was given as part of Scottish Book Week, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Jedburgh, Scottish Borders.

What was particularly exciting was that for the first time, the performers, poets and composers were all there together.

'Three Pieces for Soprano and Clarinet', with texts by Jane McKie and Stewart Sanderson were enjoyed by a lovely audience, full of admiration for the boldness of the project, and evocative marriage of words and music. Frances Cooper and Joanna Nicholson performed with such imagination and passion, and the images of nature and landscape complemented the music magnificently.

Here are two excerpts:


October 2015

New work - premiere

Three pieces for soprano and clarinet - premiered at 'Turning the Elements', Migvie Church, Tarland, as part of the Aberdeen 'Sound Music' Festival

Commissioned by Frances Cooper and Joanna Nicholson, this work features new poems specially written to be set to music, by Jane McKie and Stewart Sanderson.

Rebecca's three pieces are:

Beautiful Feathered Tyrant - Duologue - Past Sula Sgeir

Sunday 25th October 3pm, Migvie Church, Near Tarland, Aboyne, AB34 4XP



https://turningtheelements.wordpress.com/

http://sound-scotland.co.uk/event/turning-the-elements



23/10/08 - An Afro-Saxon Soundclash – York Minster

As part of the celebratory concert to mark the establishing of new local Arts and Tourism initiative Minster Quarter, Canty performed There Is Nothing Brighter Than The Sun to a packed and enthusiastic audience in the atmospheric surroundings of the beautiful Minster.

31/1/09 – 'The Life of St. Kentigern' – Glasgow Cathedral

For this event, celebrating the life of Glasgow's patron saint, Rebecca was commissioned by Canty and medieval harpist Bill Taylor, to write a new piece. Good Bishop Kentigern received its premiere in the chilly cathedral but was warmly applauded by a large audience.


9/03/11 - filmpoem - Prodigal

At the Poetry Association of Scotland's meeting at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh, Alastair Cook and Rebecca gave a live performance of PRODIGAL, with cello soundtrack and haunting images vividly bringing to life Kona Macphee's dramatic poem. (See Film Soundtracks)

  July 2014   -   Work in progress:

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for Peterborough Cathedral Choir

Various new poetry settings. Great fun!!

May 2015

Happy to announce completion this month of a new piece for string quintet: 'Spin of the Compass'.

Also I've been working on revisions of my piano concerto 'Into the Deep'.

Here is an extract...


A midi sample extract from my 2009 piano Concerto, 'In The Deep'. As yet, unavailable on cd.

May, 2015:

I am also planning a new work for organ and preparing for an exciting new vocal/instrumental work to come!

June 2015:

Organ fanfare for St. Ninian's Church Nairn well underway. Premiere on 1st August 2015, Graham Maclagan.

I can reveal more news about the exciting new project with soprano Frances Cooper and clarinettist Joanna Nicholson. I'll be setting original texts by two brilliant Scottish poets, Jane McKie and Stewart Sanderson, specifically written to be set to music and based around themes of nature and the sea, linking also with a new setting of the Scots poem 'Turn Ye To Me'. Premiere: Migvie Church, Tarland, Aberdeenshire. Sunday 25th October 2015