A few years ago, I had a piece shortlisted for the 2023/24 Scottish Landscape Awards. I never got around to posting it on social media…
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The 16-channel soundscape An Gleann Sàmhaichte (The Silenced Glen) was premiered at the City Arts Centre, Edinburgh, along with a photograph, which was taken in a derelict house while on a walk through an isolated glen.
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I’m (finally) sharing an excerpt from the soundscape, along with further images taken in the house.
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All sounds in this work are my voice. No pitches have been altered— the only manipulation has been the lengthening and/or shortening of the duration of notes in some vocal samples. (Listen with headphones for optimal experience)!
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Below is bit more information about the inspiration for the work:
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An Gleann Sàmhaichte (The Silenced Glen) is largely inspired by a trip to Ardclach, a small hamlet near Nairn. Some of my ancestors are buried in the churchyard there.
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My great-grandmother was the last native Gaelic speaker in my family. Sadly, like so many others, she faced so much prejudice she was discouraged from speaking Gaelic, and so it was not passed on to her descendants.
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This sound sculpture is both a lament for the erosion of Gaelic language and culture, and at the same time a very personal way of trying to reclaim my heritage. It uses as its basis an old Gaelic song, Fear à bhàta (The boatman).
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The work references the fact that as I cannot speak Gaelic, which by rights I should be able to speak, I’ve had to learn the words phonetically. This results in a fragmented version in which the words are not instantly intelligible.
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The work is also strongly influenced by the heterophony found in Salmadaireachd (Gaelic psalm singing).
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#artist #scottishartist #scottishmusician #music #ceòl #soundscape #soundsculpture #soprano #landscape #scotland #alba #soundscotland @soundfestival
So enjoyed performing at Snape Maltings with the Aldeburgh Music Club Choir and Suffolk Baroque Players at the weekend.
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What an utter joy and privilege to sing in such a glorious venue with a fantastic team- I LOVED it!
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Thanks so much Maestro Tom Appleton for inviting me! 😁
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This gig was made all the more special for me by having some lovely friends in the audience- including @profbgb and @jaschkeregina who drove all the way from Aberdeen to see it 🥰🫶
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#soprano #music #baroque #handel #vivaldi #snapemaltings #brittenpearsarts #aldeburgh #tomappletonmusic #aldeburghmusicclubchoir #suffolkbaroqueplayers @snapemaltings@brittenpearsarts
Had an absolute BALL back in Aberdeen performing Händel’s Messiah in the Music Hall! Definitely my performing happy place- it’s always been a special venue for me. There is something so wonderful about singing to a home audience- especially when you spot friends in the crowd 😁
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A delight and honour to share the stage with such talented colleagues and friends, in a lovely supportive environment. So thrilled to be back performing again🥰
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Huge thanks to @profbgb and Aberdeen Choral Society for having me. Loved every minute!!!
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#soprano #scottishartist #music #concert #classicalmusic #handel #messiah #baroque #orchestra #choralmusic #aberdeenchoralsociety #oratorio #paulmealor #aberdeen @aberdeenperformingarts
Absolutely delighted to say that I’m now an OBO UK sponsored player 2026-27 😁 There’s life in the old girl yet!!!
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Expect to see way more hockey content on here now, (perhaps even some singing while kitted up- quite a contrast from concert dress!!! 🤣)
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Thanks OBO!!! 🥳🏑🥅🐉
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🏑🥅🐉💚❤️
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#obohockey #obogoalkeepers #obohockeyuk #hockey #hockeygoalkeeper @obohockeyuk@norwichdragonshc
Fir-thàilisg Leòdhais | Lewis Chessmen♟️
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Successful first test proof of this Bishop 😊😇
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As with the others, I may also end up doing two versions of this- one as is, and a two plate version with some colour…
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♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️
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#art #scottishartist #printmaking #linocut #lewischessmen @nationalmuseumsscotland
Fir-thàilisg Leòdhais | Lewis Chessmen♟️
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Bishop (seems apt to carve this during Lent) 😉
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Will post proof shortly…
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#art #scottishartist #printmaking #linocut #lewischessmen @nationalmuseumsscotland@britishmuseum
Garden tiger moth | Arctia caja 🦋
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Linocut: (29cm x 19.5cm) test proof on Awagami Hosho Select (42cm x 32cm)
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Carved the plate a little while ago, but only printed this for the first time recently… Still debating whether to leave it in B&W, or to make this the key plate and add some colour…
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(Paper size has a much larger border in the finished print- a couple of the photos just show the first proofs)!
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#art #scottishartist #printmaking #linocut #moth @savebutterflies
Fir-thàilisg Leòdhais | Lewis Chessmen♟️
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King
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Linocut: (10cm x 17.5cm) test proof on Awagami Hosho Select (21cm x 30cm)
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♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️♟️
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#art #scottishartist #printmaking #linocut #lewischessmen @nationalmuseumsscotland@britishmuseum
Emperor Moth | Saturnia pavonia 🦋
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Finished plate
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I made a smaller version of this some time ago, and unfortunately the plate got irreversibly damaged (long story), so I wasn’t able to complete the edition…
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#art #scottishartist #printmaking #linocut #moth @savebutterflies
