NEWS

6th December 2014 - PSO coffee morning in St Matthew's Church 10.30-12.30 - Come and join us!

30th November 2013

PSO held a coffee morning in St Matthew's Church Hall complete with sales tables, a raffle, an exhibition of the orchestra's history and of course live music.

October 2013

Caledonian Winds, formed by PSO bassoonist Jonathan Pinnick, gave its first performance in St Ninian's cathedral on Saturday 19th October to great acclaim.
Follow this link for up to date information about the band. www.facebook.com/CaledonianWinds

August 2013

PSO viola player Gareth Clemson's winning piece 'Arabesque G16' has been recorded by members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and is now available from a link on their website. Click on the following link to hear it. Arabesque G16 by Gareth Clemson

As reported last year the piece won the unpublished amateur section of the iCompose competition 2012 run by the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Gary writes of his work:

"The title comes from the National Galleries of Scotland online catalogue number and refers to a model by Edgar Degas of a young dancer executing the Arabesque penchée pose, where the dancer, while steady on one foot, raises the other as high as possible. Musically, the term ‘arabesque’ could be freely interpreted as a ‘flourish.’

The thematic material reflects the title where the note G begins and ends a row of 16 notes, which is presented by the violin in the opening 7 bars. There are four contrasting dances using the row in its original form, inverted, retro original and retro inverted. The theme is present throughout and treated very freely in its various guises, sometimes melodically, often in the bass, occasionally as an accompaniment figure. The ‘penchée’ of the original Degas cast, is suggested where the music pauses on a chord. The musical arabesque on the other hand, is suggested where each member of the ensemble has a solo display passage.

Instrumentation: Flute, Percussion (glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, snare drum), Violin, Viola, Cello

The work is in one continuous movement and lasts around 8 minutes.

Ist December 2012

For the first time in many years PSO held a coffee morning in St Matthew's Church Hall complete with sales tables, a raffle, an exhibition of the orchestra's history and of course live music from one of our string quartets and our wind ensemble. Good fun was had by all and over £500 raised for the orchestra. Thanks to all who took part and to the St Matthew's Church team for being a wonderful help.

September 2012

PSO members had the joy of joining Perth Youth Orchestra for their 50th Anniversary Reunion on Saturday 22nd Septemer in Perth Concert Hall. A great time was had by all. Congratulations to PYO for 50 fruitful years of music making - here's to the next 50!

July 2012

PSO members were honoured and delighted to play during the Queen's Visit to Perth College on Friday 6th July. A string quartet performed a piece "Royal Visit" written specially for the event by Mark MacSporran, Perth College UHI student of the year, whilst a wind trio provided background music in the marquee where the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met staff, students, stakeholders and the other UHI partners and unveiled a plaque to commemorate their visit. See www.perth.uhi.ac.uk/news for details and pictures of the event.

Her Majesty the Queen talking to Lorenz Cairns of Perth College whilst "Royal Visit" is
performed by PSO's string quartet. (Lorna McGovern, Fiona Ballantine, Gareth Clemson and Stephen Chorley)
Photo courtesy of Perth College.

May 2012

PSO players enjoyed a unique project with Perth College in which they rehearsed and then performed a selection of pieces of music composed by third year students on the BA Popular Music degree course. The 20 or so pieces, written to go with short film clips were performed in the Perth College theatre to an appreciative audience of the students and their families on the evening of 31st May. Lecturer Dr Marlisa Ross said " The students were delighted to hear their works come to life. It was a great experience for them and I really hope we can repeat the project again next year."

PSO viola player Gareth Clemson has won the unpublished amateur section of the iCompose competition 2012 run by the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His piece "Arabesque G16" was performed by members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh on Friday 18th May. Gareth writes of his piece:

"The title comes from the National Galleries of Scotland online catalogue number and refers to a model by Edgar Degas of a young dancer executing the Arabesque penchée pose, where the dancer, while steady on one foot, raises the other as high as possible. Musically, the term ‘arabesque’ could be freely interpreted as a ‘flourish.’

The thematic material reflects the title where the note G begins and ends a row of 16 notes, which is presented by the violin in the opening 7 bars. There are four contrasting dances using the row in its original form, inverted, retro original and retro inverted. The theme is present throughout and treated very freely in its various guises, sometimes melodically, often in the bass, occasionally as an accompaniment figure. The ‘penchée’ of the original Degas cast, is suggested where the music pauses on a chord. The musical arabesque on the other hand, is suggested where each member of the ensemble has a solo display passage.

Instrumentation: Flute, Percussion (glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, snare drum), Violin, Viola, Cello

The work is in one continuous movement and lasts around 8 minutes.

Arabesque received its first performance on Friday 18 May, 2012, at the Edinburgh National Portrait Gallery, where it was the winning entry in the icompose competition run by the National Galleries in conjunction with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra 'Connect' programme. The performers were: Ruth Crouch (violin), Ruth Wexler (viola), David Watkin (cello), Yvonne Paterson (flute), Iain Sandilands (percussion), Stephen Deazley (conductor), all members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra."

March 2012

PSO finished the 2011/2012 season spending two evenings playing through music written by composers who are PSO members. This was greatly enjoyed by all and the music was wonderful. We intend to have a similar event next year. The works were:

Michael Butler: Russian Doll
An atmospheric piece for orchestra and piano with a Russian flavour.

Gareth Clemson: General Reid's Garb of Old Gaul
Some years ago, 'Edit,' published by Edinburgh University, included a copy of General Reid's march 'The Garb of Old Gaul.' While waiting for my wife to get ready before going out, I began to improvise an accompaniment to the melody, this musical doodle becoming the strident bagpipe figure heard in the opening presentation of the theme.

As it turns out, the theme is perfect variation material, in this case lending itself easily to suggesting the styles of various composers such as Gershwin, Bartok, Delius to name but three.

It is also worth mentioning General Reid's importance in the musical heritage of Edinburgh. His bequest funded the Reid School of Music and the building of the Reid Concert Hall. As well as being a military man, he was an amateur flute player and composer. In his Will, he stipulated that a selection of his music should be performed annually on his birthday, 14 February, a custom that is still observed.

Andy Evans: Horn Concerto
I wrote my horn concerto in response to a number of factors:
Firstly Robert Parker, the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra’s first horn has encouraged my composing for a number of years so I thought it might be a nice thank you for him.
Secondly one obviously needs to know an instrument well to write a concerto and being a horn player it seemed a natural thing to do.

I have tried to write a concerto which is challenging and rewarding but is playable by somone who can manage Strauss’s 1st concerto.
It is tonal and accessible but I hope the work displays a personal voice. The influences I can think of are Shostakovich, Walton and
modern jazz harmonies. Originally it was a sonata form single movement work with a 6/8 coda, paying homage to all those famous
horn concerto 6/8 finales. The coda has, after advice, been expanded into a finale proper. The themes of the finale are derived
from those of the first movement. Unlike the Strauss there is a substantial cadenza but I have been very aware to give the soloist
plenty of breaks for a breather.

Composing the work was a fascinating challenge to give the themes to the horn in keys that suited the instrument but which fitted
into the tonal structure of the work as a whole. Like many horn concertos the keys of F, E flat and B flat dominate but in the
minor, and modes as well as the major. I composed it in my head and at the piano and only occasionally got the horn out to check
how tricky a passage was. I orginally thought of the work as a chamber orchestra piece but for the first performance I expanded it for full orchestra.

John Gourlay: Vision of the Sermon (chamber orchestra version)
The original Vision of the Sermon (for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, percussion, violin and cello) was written for the 2011 iCompose competition, receiving a runner-up award, and was inspired by the painting of the same name by Paul Gaugin. This version was performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra players at the National Gallery in Edinburgh in June 2011.

When the composer was twelve years old, he was sent by his art teacher to view this painting in the gallery on the Mound and he was awe-struck by the intensity of the colour and mystery of the subject matter. Outlining parallels between the image and the music can be misleading, but the listener may find the devout Breton women, the intense red of the background and the two wrestling protagonists (Jacob and an angel, Jacob and God, Gaugin and God?) reflected in what they hear.
This version for a chamber orchestra of single wind, percussion with string orchestra was made in early 2012.

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May 2011

PSO oboe player John Gourlay has come runner-up in the unpublished amateur section of the iCompose competition 2011 run by the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His piece "The Vision of the Sermon" was inspired by the painting of the same name by Paul Gaugin. It will be performed by SCO members at the Prize-giving ceremony on Friday 24th June in the National Galleries of Scotland.

and

PSO viola player Gareth Clemson has been awarded Highly Commended in the unpublished amateur section of the iCompose competition 2011 run by the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His piece "Trumpet can Roam" for trumpet , clarinet, bassoon, violin, cello and percussion will be performed by SCO members at the Prize-giving ceremony on Friday 24th June in the National Galleries of Scotland. It was based on a painting in the on-line collection of the National Galleries of Scotland by Pietro Fabris "Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth, 1744-1781, at home in Naples: concert party".

March 2011

As we reported in summer 2010, PSO horn player Andy Evans won the unpublished amateur section of the iCompose competition run by the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His piece "Danse " for flute, clarinet, trumpet , viola and cello, inspired by a sculture by Ossip Zadkine, can now be heard. Go to www.icompose.org then choose The Competition, 2010 competition and scroll down to a sculpture of two people dancing by Ossip Zadkine. Click on the link and you will hear 'Danse' performed by members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra recorded by Linn Records.

November 2010

Friday 29th November 2010.

PSO along with PYO enjoyed providing the music for the Perth 800 Lightnight Fireworks display on on the River Tay. We were in the white marquee in the middle of the picture.

14th November 2010. PSO was delighted to receive the following email from former member Peter Marr.

Dear PSO!

I have just found your web site which brought back some very happy memories when I use to play in the Perth Symphony Orchestra in the second violins where I shared a desk with I think Gloria de Pettes if I remember correctly. I was taught the violin by Bela de Csillery while I was at school in Scotland (where Noel de Jongh also taught music). One of my most vivid recollections is the concert in 1957 when Ralph Holmes was the soloist and played the Mendelsohn violin concerto. I have some nice photographs of the occasion and wondered whether you might like to have copies of them for your records if you do not have them already. If you would like me to send you copies please let me know and I will scan them and send them to you as an email attachment.

I trust the orchestra is still going strong.

With best wishes

Peter Marr

True to his word, Peter subsequently sent the photos, originally taken by the Perthshire Advertiser who have kindly given us permission to show them here. They show PSO performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto on 12th May 1957 and the violin soloist Ralph Holmes with conductor Bela de Csillery.

Images reproduced by kind permission of the Perthshire Advertiser

May 2010

PSO horn player Andy Evans won the unpublished amateur section of the iCompose competition 2010 run by the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His piece "Danse " for flute, clarinet, trumpet , viola and cello, inspired by a sculture by Ossip Zadkine will be played by members of the SCO at the National Gallery in Edinburgh and then recorded at City Halls Glasgow by Linn Records.

January 2010

Former PSO soloist Alasdair Beatson is to be Artist in Residence at Perth Concert Hall this spring (2010). He writes:

" I am delighted this season to be Artist in Residence at Perth Concert Hall - a fabulous 1200-seater hall in my home town which is celebrating its fifth anniversary. I will give a solo recital there (25/2/10, 7.30pm) and three chamber concerts, with the Scottish Ensemble (1pm, 25/1/10), the exceptional violinist Pekka Kuusisto (1pm, 15/2/10), and again with the Doric String Quartet on 4th May, 7.30pm."

Alasdair continues to make an impact on the classical music scene and last year released his Opus 1 CD with SOMM recordings which received much favourable press attention.

"This was a most rewarding project - an enormous challenge for me to get my teeth into. Choosing to record the first published works of Schumann, Grieg, Brahms and Berg provided not only a coherence in the programming but a strange feeling of empathy - this being my debut CD I was making an equivalent 'first step' to each composer. I hope to have done justice to all...! "

Alasdair also has a busy London schedule:

"The spring months shall see three appearances at Wigmore Hall. Tickets have just gone on sale for my third solo recital there, on the 1st of March 2010, 7.30pm, in a programme of Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms. I am also playing the Brahms Piano Quintet with the Doric String Quartet on 21st February, 11.30am, and with cellist John Myerscough on February 8th, 7.30pm, with Faure, Sibelius and Beethoven. Please do support any of these if you can! For a full list of concert engagements, please see my website - www.alasdairbeatson.com "

February 2009

Perth Symphony Orchestra is currently undertaking an exciting project with over 200 local young singers to perform Romany Wood, a musical story for children's choir and orchestra. This work will be the first half of PSO's Spring Concert, featuring music for and performed by children and young people, in Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 28th February at 7.30pm. The young voices are singers from the Youth Music Initiative 'Cool Schools', the Perth based Jamboree Singers and local school choirs.

February 2007

PSO's evening of film music was attended by over 1000 people

Perth Symphony Orchestra will perform some of the most popular film music during a family concert at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 25 Feb at 7.30pm. The concert is free to all school pupils and it is hoped that a large number of the audience will be consist of pupils. The orchestra members are delighted to have Neil Metcalfe, Director of Music at Strathallan School to compere the concert and make the children welcome. Conductor Allan Young said: "Perth Symphony Orchestra has deliberately compiled this programme to be attractive to families and particular to the younger generation. We are anticipating a really good, fun evening with lots of the favourite film melodies being heard. I am delighted to have local Music Director and Musician Neil Metcalfe to compere and interact with the audience. Neil is a highly regarded performer and very popular with musicians of all ages"

November 2005

PSO debut in Perth Concert Hall

Sunday 27th November marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Perth Symphony Orchestra:the era of Perth Concert Hall. PSO was both honoured and delighted to have shared this beginning with two outstanding soloists. Clarinettist Linda Merrick gave a totally captivating world premiere of John McLeod's Clarinet Concerto and Perth-born pianist Alasdair Beatson delighted the large audience with a magnificent reading of Greig's Piano Concerto.

Linda Merrick performing the world premiere of John McLeod's Clarinet Concerto

Alasdair Beatson on stage to perform the Grieg Piano Concerto

At the end of the concert the audience lingered and enjoyed the new hall's threshold facilities and a slide show of some of the orchestra's photographic records