Achi news desk-
The intention of the festival is to bring the communities around the lake together by hosting exceptional and unique chamber music performances by leading musicians every year.
This year’s event will feature a world premiere by local composer Lisa Robertson.
The passage, Our Forests, for a Gaelic children’s choir and ensemble, a celebration of our local native woodlands and of our local community’s relationship with them, both historically and in the present.
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Duncan Strachan, Artistic Director, said: “This year’s Loch Shiel Festival, entitled The Woods So Wild, is one of our most ambitious festivals to date, we are delighted to have been able to create a program of events that truly celebrates and shining. shining a light on our native woodland, bringing new music, collaborations and social events to the local community.
“As well as musical performances, guided walks and talks from woodland experts, film screenings and food and drink, we are bringing together world-class artists and local school children this year to perform a piece of music newly commissioned by Lisa Robertson, which will have a very positive impact on the community.”
Composer Lisa Robertson said: “The piece is a celebration of our local native woodlands, painting a musical picture of the complexity and vitality of life found in these woodlands, and highlighting their importance to us and to the planet. It also celebrates our local community’s links with the woodlands, with words from the 19th century Morvern poet, Dr. John McLachlan, local 18th century poet Alastiar McMaistir Alastair, and local school children with whom I worked on this new composition.”
As well as the new work by Robertson, the festival promotes new music by Scottish composers and performers, including the world premiere of Elise Haller-Shannon’s new work composed for the Scottish percussion star , Colin Currie, as well as a new composition by folk duo Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, the Maxwell Quartet, and innovative brass duo Dopey Monkey.
Accompanying new compositions, there will be music from all over history that links to the woodland theme, by composers including Henry Purcell, William Byrd, Felix Mendelssohn, Ralph Vaughan Williams and many more.
More information about the festival is available at www.lochshielfestival.com
