i am sound

I recently did a sound design for Macbeth (also known as “the Scottish play”)  at Cottiers theatre in Glasgow, directed by Lawrence Crawford for inTheatre. The show marked the 400th anniversary of the Shakespeare classic.

The Cottiers building (originally a church built in 1865) has the perfect atmosphere for the Scottish play and stunning acoustics.

The droning soundscapes I created were based around the sound of oil drums, treated and looped to become endless textures.   They were layered to create a moody backdrop that could shift between a single tone and swelling chords.  I was keen to have a contemporary feel to the music so I worked with jazz saxophinst Michael Butcher who improvised various harmonic phrases on top. I had fun playing with some interesting echo effects as he was recording.

Macbeth Preshow Soundscape – an overview of the various soundscapes in the show.

The soundtrack was brought to life by the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association (conducted by Kenny Thomson) who I recorded singing various chords and phrases. Eilidh Davies of the GGMA is also a wonderful clàrsach player and I recorded some of her beautiful playing for the preshow music and banquet scene.

The theme for the “weyward sisters” was based around a little celtic melody that actor Anne Lothian had been humming in rehearsals.   Anne has a beautiful voice and the effect of her voice multitracked through “endless” reverb was quite ethereal.

The Weyward Sisters soundscape.

I am currently adding the finishing touches to my soundtrack for the 2011 Enchanted Forest show “Transitions”.

Following the success of “Force Of Nature”, lighting designer Simon Wilkinson, (who beautifully illuminated the forest last year) and myself have brought our creative minds together once again to bring you this years’ show.

The new location at The Explorer’s Garden in Pitlochry offers a different Enchanted Forest experience with different levels and vantage points to enjoy the show.

This year Simon and myself wanted to create a show that had an element of discovery, where the audience could explore their surroundings and the light and sound could transform the space before them in new and exciting ways.

One of the various pathways within the valley.

The musical pieces I have composed are different interpretations of a theme I developed earlier in the year. Although they will be installed at various spaces and distances they play in counterpoint with one another creating a different experience as the audience explore the site.

The music for this year’s show has benefitted greatly from the input of Joshua Payne, my assistant sound designer who worked on many of the recordings for the soundtrack including accordion, didgeridoo, tuned glass bottles and Tibetan singing bowls. Joshua also played keyboard and piano parts in the main piece.

As well as a variety of interesting sounds including foghorns, bells, drones and bagpipes the soundtrack this year features an attractive mix of musical performances including voices, cello, violins, flutes, saxophone and tuned percussion.

Saxophonist Michael Butcher in a recording session for Transitions.

In the meantime here is a collection of excerpts from the music from this years show…. without giving too much away I might add!

The Enchanted Forest returns from 7th – 29th October 2011.  Get tickets here.

Miracle by Nicola McCartney opened on Monday at Oran Mor for A Play, A Pie and A Pint with a sound design by yours truly.

“Based on the true story of an extraordinary weekend in the life of the young Einstein, spent in Como, Italy in 1900 which changed him forever. The 21 year-old Albert has wild dreams about angels dancing on beams of light and secret passionate love-making, which would lead both to his greatest discovery, and to his greatest secret: the hidden love child whose fate would irreparably break his heart.”

The scenes move back and forth throughout a six year period depicting the courtship between Einstein and Mileva Maric. Director Julie Ellen was keen to incorporate soundscapes to help portray these shifts in time.

For these shifts in time I incorporated the sounds of bells, snippets of Bach and various locations from the play melting together to illustrate the transition from one time and place to another.   The sounds were processed to have a doppler effect quality which gives the impression of the sounds approaching and passing the listener by.

Miracle is directed by Julie Ellen and features Finn den Hertog and Ailsa Courtney.

Miracle plays until Saturday 7th May.  Further information on the Play Pie Pint website.

I have been asked to do a sound design for the Tron Mayfesto production Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco.

Gary Owen‘s fabulous play is set in small town Wales and tells the story of one particularly eventful Saturday night, through the eyes of three different characters.  Despite being gritty and violent in places the play also drifts into the fantastical and ethereal and it is my intention to harness this heightened sense of reality in my sound design.

Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco is directed by Leann O’Kasi and opens at The Tron on Tue 24th May and runs until Sat 28th May.

I am currently working on a sound design for a fantastic play by Tim Nunn entitled “Formel” for his theatre company Reeling & Writhing.

The story is set on an island on the West Coast of Scotland and incorporates some beautiful field recordings made by Tim during his recent visit to Islay.

“‘Formel’ traces the complex tensions around the eagles of Scotland through the passion and wonder felt for them by this young woman, and the love she has for three men in her life…. a tragic love story told through the skies, clifftops and beaches of the West cost of Scotland.”

The performance features detailed and layered soundscapes reproduced on a series of carefully positioned speakers, creating a rich language of sound.

Performed in an intimate space in very low lighting the audience will experience a show where their sense of space and location is often suggested by what they hear as opposed to what they see.

Formel will have two preview performances at Platform on Thurs 20th and Fri 21st of January.

Read more about Formel at the Reeling & Writhing home page.

Well all good things must come to an end so it’s time to wave goodbye to The Enchanted Forest for another year.

This year’s show “Force Of Nature” has proved to be a huge success with overwhelming positive feedback from patrons and press alike.

Numerous people have inquired about the soundtrack -  thankyou for your interest!

For those who would like to hear the soundtrack again there is a 15 minute medley that encompasses the most memorable moments of the original sound and music that I created for the show, and after several requests I have also uploaded the popular Firefly Chorus piece in it’s entirety.

You can listen to the 15 minute medley and Firefly Chorus on my Recent Work page.

I hope Force Of Nature has been as enjoyable to attend as it was to create!

For more information on The Enchanted Forest check the official website.

I have just done a sound design for Sandy Nelson’s superb comedy Baltamire which opened yesterday at Oran Mor, Glasgow for A Play, A Pie & A Pint.

The play was directed by Julie Ellen and was a pleasure to work on. Sandy’s imaginative writing called for the creation of some interesting effects, including elaborate helicopter and aeroplane soundscapes,  air traffic control radio communications and even the sound of bird eggs hatching!

The show features Sandy Nelson, Rebecca Elise and Ewan Donald and is a great show that is packed full of laughs.

“Baltamire” runs from 8th November until 12th November.   You can get tickets here.

“Baltamire” by Sandy Nelson.

Directed by Julie Ellen.

Assistant director – Stasi Schaeffer

Featuring Sandy Nelson, Rebecca Elise and Ewan Donald.

Sound design by RJ McConnell.

Photographs courtesy of Leslie Black.