Stunning videos, featuring award-winning compositions inspired by Scotland’s national nature reserves including Caerlaverock in Dumfries and Galloway, are being released today by NatureScot and Highland arts organisation, Fèis Rois.
The first competition of its kind in Scotland encouraged entrants to connect with nature by writing music inspired by the coasts and waters of Scotland’s beautiful nature reserves, as part of the celebrations for the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.
The 11 music videos are being launched online to help connect people to nature through music. The competition, In Tune With Nature / Air Ghleus le Nàdar, was judged by a panel of well-known faces from the Scottish music industry, including Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis; BBC broadcaster and journalist Vic Galloway; Scottish Music Centre Director Gill Maxwell; and singer-songwriter Karine Polwart. Compositions entered ranged from classical to pop with songs written in Gaelic, Scots, Shetland dialect and English.
· Lucie Treacher – Caerlaverock
Lucie Treacher is a composer and artist creating interactive sound experiences, digital and theatrical, virtual and real. Her work is characterised by quirky and textural sound worlds which she weaves together in her multi-disciplinary creations. She was born in Dumfries and grew up in Glasgow and the Highlands
The winners each received a £500 cash prize and, when Covid-19 restrictions were eased, had the opportunity to visit the nature reserve that inspired their music with filmmaker, Graeme Roger from Wildbird. These compositions and accompanying videos, which feature footage recorded on the Isle of Rum, Beinn Eighe, Forvie, Isle of May, Tentsmuir, Caerlaverock, Creag Meagaidh, Loch Leven and Taynish, are now available to watch on the NatureScot website.
Lucie Treacher who’s video was inspired by Caerlaverock in Dumfries and Galloway told DGWGO
“There’s something about the moody, constantly shifting light at Caerlaverock, which I’ve tried to capture in ‘Without’, a song which is at times a monologue and others dialogue. I’m captivated by the mudflats and the meeting of the sky and the sea which stretches across your whole field of vision.”
Ben Ross, SNH’s Head of Nature Reserves, added:
“It’s wonderful to see the creativity and love of nature shown in these pieces and videos. Under the lockdown, composers had to experience the nature of our amazing national nature reserves virtually or think back to past visits. So it’s particularly fitting that they’ve been able to visit and have their music set to images of our lovely nature reserves. These sites have such an amazing variety of wildlife, as well as stunning beaches, mountains, lochs and rivers for people to enjoy. It’s hard not to be inspired by such beauty!”Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive of Fèis Rois, commented: “We were overwhelmed at the quality of entries for In Tune With Nature and it is a pleasure to finally be able to share the brilliant music and creativity produced during lockdown and filmed in the nature reserves that inspired the musicians. It has been important to us, over the last few months more than ever, to provide support and motivation for musicians whilst also providing people with new music to lift spirits.”
To watch the In Tune With Nature films, please click HERE .
