Sally Beamish (1956-)

Episodes

SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
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201201Early Works2012022720150706 (R3)This week Donald Macleod visits Sally Beamish in her home near Loch Lomond, to talk to her about her work. Sally has been composing since she was a child but only set out on the path of professional composer after moving to Scotland in 1990, having already established a successful career as a viola player. Today she discusses her earliest commissions and how moving to Scotland, and motherhood, influenced her decision to become a composer.

Commedia (extract)

Hebrides Ensemble

No, I'm Not Afraid - Six poems by Irina Ratushinskaya

Geoffrey Cox (oboe)/ Swedish Chamber Orchestra / Ola Rudner (cond) / Sally Beamish (narrator)

Tuscan Lullaby

Mary Wiegold (soprano)/ The Composers Ensemble/ Dominic Muldowney (cond)

Symphony No.1

Royal Scottish National Orchestra/ Martyn Brabbins (cond).

Sally Beamish tells Donald Macleod about her earliest commissions.

201202Music Of Others2012022820150707 (R3)Sally Beamish talks to Donald Macleod about some of the pieces she has written that are influenced by, or based on, works of other composers, from Bach to Tippett. Two of today's works take Beethoven or Brahms as a starting point, but incorporate jazz techniques. She discusses her recent decision to learn more about jazz, and how this has affected her composing style.

Song of the Birds

Steven Isserlis (cello)

in dreaming

Fretwork/ Paul Agnew (tenor)

Chamber Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Strings (movement 1)

Rascher Saxophone Quartet/ Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra/ Robin Engelen (cond)

Opus California (String Quartet No.2)

Emperor String Quartet

Debussy/Beamish Suite pour Violoncelle et Orchestre (movement 5)

Steven Isserlis (cello)/ Tapiola Sinfonietta/ Gကbor Takကcs-Nagy (cond)

Kirschen

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/ Andrew Manze (cond).

Donald Macleod talks to Sally Beamish about her music based on works by other composers.

201203Poetry And Literature20120229In conversation with the composer at her home in Scotland, Donald Macleod looks at Sally Beamish's works that have been directly inspired by poetry and literature. They discuss her songs setting words by the 14th century Persian poet Hafez, an orchestral work evoking the Arctic landscape that inspired Mary Shelley, and a cello concerto that takes as its starting point the 'River' poems of Ted Hughes. One of Beamish's major works, the Concerto no. 2 for Viola and Orchestra, is based on the story told by a 9th century Anglo-Saxon poem, 'The Seafarer', and features the notated calls of sea birds mentioned in the poem.

Donald Macleod explores works by Sally Beamish that have been inspired by literature.

201204Scottish Influence2012030120150709 (R3)Sally Beamish talks to Donald Macleod about the effect of moving to Scotland on her music, and the strong sense of culture and community she found there. The lively and responsive musical scene have fed into her work, and she has drawn on the inspiration of Scotland's landscape and its musical traditions, from Scottish fiddle playing to music for bagpipes.

Gala Water (Extract: mvt I)

Robert Irvine (cello)

Chamber Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Strings (Extract: mvt 2)

Rasch耀r Saxophone Quartet/ Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra/ Robin Engelen (cond)

Reed Stanzas

Elias Quartet

The Imagined Sound of Sun on Stone

John Harle (saxophone)/ Swedish Chamber Orchestra/ Ola Rudner (cond).

Sally Beamish talks to Donald Macleod about the effect of moving to Scotland on her music.

201205 LASTFriends And Family2012030220150710 (R3)In the last of this week's programmes Donald Macleod talks to Sally Beamish about works that are connected with her friends and family, from works commissioned by two supportive patrons who have become like 'musical parents' to her, to those that have been requested by friends who are concert performers.

In the Stillness

Quintessential Voices

Bridging the Day

Robert Irvine (cello)/ Sally Beamish (piano)

Violin Concerto (Extract: 2nd movt)

Anthony Marwood (violin)/ Royal Scottish National Orchestra/ Martyn Brabbins (cond)

Cello Sonata

God of the Moon

Choir of St. Giles' Cathedral/ Michael Harris (cond)/ Peter Backhouse (organ).

Sally Beamish talks to Donald Macleod about works written for people close to her.

201503Poetry And Literature20150708In conversation with the composer at her home in Scotland, Donald Macleod looks at Sally Beamish's works that have been directly inspired by poetry and literature. They discuss her songs setting words by the 14th century Persian poet Hafez, an orchestral work evoking the Arctic landscape that inspired Mary Shelley, and a cello concerto that takes as its starting point the 'River' poems of Ted Hughes. One of Beamish's major works, the Concerto no. 2 for Viola and Orchestra, is based on the story told by a 9th century Anglo-Saxon poem, 'The Seafarer', and features the notated calls of sea birds mentioned in the poem.

Donald Macleod explores works by Sally Beamish that have been inspired by literature.