Scottish Ensemble
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Ensemble is one of Scotland
's finest string ensembles, formed from some of the most highly respected string players in Europe
.http://living.scotsman.com/features/So-what39s-the-catch.3734322.jp Playing standing in a semicircle and without a conductor, it is led from the violin by Artistic Director, Jonathan Morton.
Originally formed in 1969 as the Scottish Baroque Ensemble, by the violinist Leonard Friedman, the Ensemble’s extensive repertoire spans from the Baroque
to the present day. The Ensemble regularly commissions new work http://music.guardian.co.uk/live/story/0,,2255061,00.html and has an enviable reputation for innovative programming, performing rare and unusual pieces alongside more well-known music. Composers who have written for the Scottish Ensemble include John Tavener
, David Horne, John Woolrich, Craig Armstrong and Steve Martland
.
As one of Scotland’s flagship performing groups, the Scottish Ensemble receives invitations to perform throughout the UK and internationally. In recent seasons the Ensemble has toured to China (Shanghai Spring International Festival), Germany and France. In the UK, it performs regularly at Wigmore Hall
in London, and at a wide range of festivals including the BBC Promshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/04_april/25/proms_extras.shtml; City of London Festival
; Aldeburgh Festival
; Edinburgh International Festival
; and the St Magnus Festival, Orkney. Concerts are regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3
and BBC Radio Scotland
, and there is an ever-growing collection of recordings available.
The Scottish Ensemble is committed to Scotland
and its audiences, and from its Glasgow
base performs some 50 concerts a year. It travels the length and breadth of Scotland, appearing in all major towns and cities, as well as in more remote areas. Each year, the Scottish Ensemble promotes a 30-concert series in Aberdeen
, Dundee
, Edinburgh
, Glasgow, Inverness
and Perth
, and each summer promotes concerts in venues across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's finest string ensembles, formed from some of the most highly respected string players in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.http://living.scotsman.com/features/So-what39s-the-catch.3734322.jp Playing standing in a semicircle and without a conductor, it is led from the violin by Artistic Director, Jonathan Morton.
Originally formed in 1969 as the Scottish Baroque Ensemble, by the violinist Leonard Friedman, the Ensemble’s extensive repertoire spans from the Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
to the present day. The Ensemble regularly commissions new work http://music.guardian.co.uk/live/story/0,,2255061,00.html and has an enviable reputation for innovative programming, performing rare and unusual pieces alongside more well-known music. Composers who have written for the Scottish Ensemble include John Tavener
John Tavener
Sir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
, David Horne, John Woolrich, Craig Armstrong and Steve Martland
Steve Martland
Steve Martland is an English composer.-Life and Music :Martland was born in Liverpool, England and studied composition at Liverpool University and in the Netherlands with Louis Andriessen...
.
As one of Scotland’s flagship performing groups, the Scottish Ensemble receives invitations to perform throughout the UK and internationally. In recent seasons the Ensemble has toured to China (Shanghai Spring International Festival), Germany and France. In the UK, it performs regularly at Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
in London, and at a wide range of festivals including the BBC Promshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/04_april/25/proms_extras.shtml; City of London Festival
City of London Festival
The City of London Festival is an annual arts festival that takes place in the City of London, England, over two to three weeks in June and July. The Festival is strongly geared towards classical music, but also offers a programme that includes jazz, world music, opera, film screenings, lectures...
; Aldeburgh Festival
Aldeburgh Festival
The Aldeburgh Festival is an English arts festival devoted mainly to classical music. It takes place each June in the Aldeburgh area of Suffolk, centred on the main concert hall at Snape Maltings...
; Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
; and the St Magnus Festival, Orkney. Concerts are regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
and BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
, and there is an ever-growing collection of recordings available.
The Scottish Ensemble is committed to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and its audiences, and from its Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
base performs some 50 concerts a year. It travels the length and breadth of Scotland, appearing in all major towns and cities, as well as in more remote areas. Each year, the Scottish Ensemble promotes a 30-concert series in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Glasgow, Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
and Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, and each summer promotes concerts in venues across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.