The first public performance of one of my compositions! As part of the Edinburgh International Festival’s Twittering Machine project celebrating Messiaen’s anniversary, my work, The Byrd Cage, was performed on two dates in the Temperate Palm House of the Royal Botanic Gardens along with pieces by Alasdair Nicholson and other young composers including Gordon Douglas from my jazz trio.
To set the record straight, I had actually heard of Messiaen. Although, to be fair, I still have no idea at all how to pronounce it. (Messy Anne?)
I have been coached by Alasdair before, but never under quite so much pressure: we had just three days to compose, all the while with four professional musicians waiting for us to finish so they could practice or pieces. I’m not looking forward to going back to Sibelius 5 playback after having full time live musicians at my caprice.
