See and hear Muckle Flugga - Rory Boyle's Prizewinning Brass Band Piece

RORY BOYLE, PRIZEWINNER!  

Wind Band / Brass Band category of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors 2015 Awards.

We were delighted to hear our RCS colleague composer Rory Boyle has been awarded a prestigious award for his brass band piece, Muckle Flugga.

And we're equally delighted - very grateful indeed - that he has kindly donated a score of the piece to the Whittaker library at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  It has been catalogued already and will soon hit the library shelves!  

You can hear it on Soundcloud here, via the Scottish Music Centre.

Ever had a Vocal Sound Bath?

Singers, here's a Glasgow event for you - next Saturday, 18th April in Kinning Park.

Composer Nichola Scrutton is organising a Vocal Sound Bath to celebrate World Voice Day.  Visit her website to find out more about the event!

• http://www.nicholascrutton.co.uk/vocal-sound-bath/
• World Voice Day website http://world-voice-day.org/

Flautists, Have You Heard of Yorkshire-Born Composer John Townsend?

We've come across an article about John Townsend by Tom Moore, of Florida International University.  He was active in the north of England in the mid-nineteenth century.  You can read it HERE.

"The music for unaccompanied flute by John Townsend in the manuscript volumes of the Hitchcock Collection"

You can follow lecturer Tom Moore on Academia.edu, where more of his writings can be found.  HERE.

Composer Antony Hopkins dies aged 93

Read the BBC announcement of Antony Hopkins' death here.

The Whittaker Library stock includes several scores by the composer, including a couple of children's operas.  

Meanwhile, one member of the Whittaker Library staff remembers this book as being influential upon her development as a pianist - though it has to be said that sadly her early talent never became anything outstanding!

Percussionists - do you know Percussion Symphony no.1 and no.2 by Anthony J. Cirone?

We have two percussion symphonies by Anthony J. Cirone.  (See the Whittaker Library catalogue here.)

We wondered if the cassette tape in Symphony no.2 was putting people off - after all, it's defunct technology now!

The composer kindly gave us permission to transfer the tape to CD, so that solves the technological problem.  Now we need someone to come and try the music out!

Intrigued? Come and borrow it!

Composer for the Violin, Henri Vieuxtemps

Just been invited to a virtual exhibition.  The invitation explains itself:-

[You are invited to] "our virtual exhibition on the life and works of Henry Vieuxtemps (1820-1881).  The Music Department of the Royal Library of Belgium holds the largest collection of scores by the famous 19^th century Belgian violinist and composer.  The exhibition gives a chronological survey of his career and features numerous unpublished documents including autograph scores, letters and illustrations. Available languages: French and Dutch." 

Visit it here.
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Contact details:-

Bibliothèque royale de Belgique - Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België
Section de la Musique - Muziekafdeling
Boulevard de l'Empereur 4 - Keizerslaan 4
B-1000 Bruxelles - Brussel
Belgique - België
T. +32-(0)2-519.56.63
F. +32-(0)2-519.57.60

Christopher Gough, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Alumnus

Composer Christopher Gough distributes his compositions through his own website.  Take a look here.

Behind the Scenes at the University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is currently offering a peek behind the scenes in various departments.

"Dr Scott Wilson is offering you the chance to improvise music with Birmingham Ensemble for Electroacoustic Research."

One of the treats on offer is an electroacoustic experience with composer Scott Wilson.  Find out more ...