Catalogue
St Blane's Hill (1991)
Programme Note available | View performance history...
Commissioned by RSAMD to help celebrate its centenary year in 1991.
Work Details
Category: orchestral
Duration: 12
Instrumentation: 333(1)3 4331 3 Perc Tp Hp Str S-Sax
SMC Holdings
- Recording (CD track): RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Bobby Houlihan [enquire]
- Score, unpublished, ref library [enquire]
- Score, unpublished, archive collection (Office Cupboard (Outsize)) [enquire]
- Part(s), unpublished, hire library [enquire]
- Set [enquire]
Work notes
It is dedicated with affection to all my teachers, fellow students and friends at the Academy.
Programme Note
St Blane's Hill is at the South-west tip of the island of Bute, and looks across the Sound of Bute to the dramatic skyline of the north Arran mountains. In the hollow of a hanging valley beside it is the site of a sixth century religious settlement established by St. Cattan which was raided by the Vikings, but later re-established. A church, now ruined, was in use on the site until about 150 years ago.
Almost all of the significant Bronze-age to early mediaeval remains on Bute are on the West or South of the Island. Perhaps those on the East side have been obliterated by modern settlement, but I prefer to think that each generation has pointed itself towards its own economic and cultural centre. In the so-called "Dark Ages" this was Ireland at the high point of Celtic culture only in later times would it be industrial Scotland and the high road to England.
On a map of Europe, Scotland looks to be at the farthest edge and our cultural life is often infected by a sense of inferiority. I feel that perhaps we should emulate these early Celts and look first of all to our own culture: and then at any other that pleases us, on an equal footing.
Perhaps I am stretching the metaphor of St. Blane's Hill too far. But it's an apt enough symbol for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music too - apparently at the periphery, but at the centre of its own culture.
Even if the listener can't share my reasoning, I hope at least that the atmosphere of this unique place might reach out to them.
