Recently

I've been busy working on music for Stephen Bennett's powerful, sensitive documentrary "One Morning In March". More about this in time.

I have also been working on my first feature-length soundtrack. More about this soon too.

I saw The Vaselines open for Mogwai at The Barrowlands - which was nice.

I attended a director-composer Speed Dating session at Edinburgh International Film Festival. Which good in an odd way, or odd in a good way.

And I saw an amazing film which really stayed with me - "Timbuktu".

It's the kind of film you bang on about to the point of annoying folk. Here is an interview with the director.

Loved this Frank Gehry doc on BBC.

C'est tout.

Dance

On Saturday I went the matinee performance of the Dance School Of Scotland's annual show at the swanky Theatre Royal. I think that's the third time I've been and I loved it - as I always do. I 'm a frustrated dancer. The first time I saw West Side Story I wanted to skip down the street in plimsouls clicking my fingers. Then I remembered I lived in Lanarkshire.

Here, again, is my recent appearance on BBC Radio Scotland's "Classics Unwrapped". (That's me on the left...):

Did I mention I have an album out called "Music For String Quartet, Piano And Celeste" that you can buy here btw?

Just found out I will be working on the music for a new TV series that I can't tell you about, so yay for that.

The other day my six-year old asked me a question:

"Is there an answer for everything?"

If you have 25 mins to spare you might enjoy Houdini's Death Defying Spectacular by Jay Capperauld:

Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me.

x

Ghent and Kelpie

Here is a live rendition of Ghent  a piece which appears on "Music For String Quartet Piano And Celeste") performed by The Cairn String Quartet. And here is a photo of them soundchecking (while I stood on the piano stool to take the photo):

It was recorded in the foyer of BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay, Glasgow last Friday for Bryan Burnett's show. Thanks, Bryan.

If you live in Glasgow and fancy a wander through the Botanic Gardens you'll likely spot a couple of these:

Beautiful. And just a fraction of the size of the main event through in Falkirk.

I have been busy making music for film and TV projects recently. I appreciate the chance to work with Stephen Bennett once again (he produced and directed "Commonwealth City" for BBC last year). Stephen is directing the documentary "One Morning In March'.

Ice cream oysters and classical music

I think the highlight of my weekend was an...

...from...

But that's not all.

First there was:

Then:

Now:

Yes on Sunday night I was a guest on BBC Scotland's Classics Unwrapped with the esteemed Jamie MacDougall.

Listen in from 39 mins here to hear me explain all you need to know about classical music, composing, affordable mid life crises and the mysteries of the universe. There is also some music featuring The Cairn String Quartet + Brian McAlpine on celeste + me on piano.

More about my album "Music For String Quartet, Piano And Celeste" here.

Me me me me me!

Keep in touch.

x

Today - Fri 5th June

Today I assembled an IKEA office chair. *applause*

I also performed some pieces from "Music For String Quartet, Pianoa And Celeste" on Bryan Burnett's BBC Day Of Music show in Glasgow. Listen to my music and chat at around 40 mins - here.

 Zoom in to see me at the back underneath the Thinks Bubble: "My fingers are not sausages, my fingers are not sausages..."

It were grand to get to play this music live with The Cairn String Quartet and - on the RSNO's celeste - my pal Brian McAlpine.

And you can order the album here.

The Cramps, Sting and Andy Stewart

 
With The Foo Fighters' catering a distant memory I have been back slaving over a hot clavinova making music for TV/film projects that I cannot discuss.

The good people at Glasgow Music City Tours invited me to blog about my favourite Glasgow music venue(s), hence the name of THIS blog. Here is Part 1 and here is Part 2.

This Friday (5th June) I am performing some pieces from my album "Music For String Quartet, Piano And Celeste" at BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay, Glasgow on the Bryan Burnett show. I will be playing piano.  The Cairn String Quartet will be playing the string quartet and the esteemed Brian McAlpine will be playing celeste. Here is great photo from our rehearsal:

Oh and I will be on BBC Scotland's "Classics Unwrapped" on Sunday 7th June. Exciting.

And finally, a recent 'conversation' popped back into my head:

6 year-old to 5 year-old: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
5 year-old: "Yes."
6 year-old: "What am I thinking?"
5 year-old (after a brief pause): "I don't know."