One of the most exciting things happening in the folk scene in Scotland is the devising/composing/creating of new music. Sometimes experimental – (electroacoustic, free improv) and sometimes more conventional but on a larger scale or featuring elements of different genres (fiddle concertos, orchestral works or crossovers such as jazz folk), these pieces of new music are increasing in number and variety all the time.

It could be said that some of this new music is a bit ‘out there’, a bit homeless - it doesn’t really fit in anywhere at the moment. And, perhaps as a result, it doesn’t attract the biggest audiences (and that’s an understatement). But what I find most interesting is that it doesn’t seem to be about the audiences anyway (unlike most other creative activity from the folk scene), this music seems to be about the musicians, about challenges, experimenting and expression.

(Though, at present, there appear to be more new works than musicians to play them.)

That’s not to say, of course, that these works aren’t inclusive or welcoming, in fact sometimes the opposite is true. But they’re not designed to appeal to the masses. This composed/devised music is alive and growing regardless of a label or an audience to call its own. It’s rebellious and intelligent, and as Hamish Henderson remarked “what brave new music” about Martyn Bennett’s Grit, perhaps we should be calling for brave new performers and brave new audiences to match?

(I should just come clean right now and admit that this subject is actually part of my PhD. I won’t be presenting any heavy research in these posts but since the PhD also includes a great deal of my music practice I’ll undoubtedly refer to it often..)

And so with a commission for McFall’s Chamber courtesy of Distil for next week, music for a short film from the Scottish Film Archive due by the end of the month and a New Voices commission looming, I have been mostly daydreaming, drinking tea and busying myself with inconsequential tasks. The creative mind at work eh!

The title of the first piece is As Water Wears The Rock and refers primarily to the passing of time as well as St Mary’s Loch in the Borders as a place of inspiration and will include a few lines from different works by James Hogg.

“’Tis said as water wears the rock,

That time wears out the deepest line,

It may be true wi’ hearts enew,

But never shall apply to mine.

For I have liv’d to know and feel,

Though losses should forgotten be,

That still the blank at my right hand,

Can never be made up to me.”

(from 'I Downa Laugh, I Downa Sing' by James Hogg)

If you fancy joining the brave new audience the Distil gig is at Stirling’s Tolbooth on Friday 23 October. 8 new works in total will be performed by McFall’s Chamber and trad soloists.

By the way – does anyone have any info on the Portsoy married versus single ladies football match circa 1948? (3-0 single ladies!) I’d be much obliged…

St Mary's Loch

Across St Mary's to Megget Water