Armada 1588 in shetland
September 2023

This theme was requested by the Fair Isle community: the project takes as stimulus the Gran Grifón, the Armada ship wrecked on Fair Isle in 1588. It co-creates new music/narrative works in mainland Shetland and Fair Isle, involving schools workshops in music, composition and performance, and open-to-all workshops, culminating in premieres by and for the communities woven into CHROMA concerts of Spanish and Renaissance music.

Armada 1588 builds on previous programmes of work. CHROMA has a relationship with the islands of Shetland and Fair Isle going back 21 years, this will be its 9th visit.  From 2002-2010 the CHROMA visits to Shetland encompassed Unst, Yell, mainland Shetland and Fair Isle. Whilst our visits since 2016 have been Fair Isle residencies, by request of the Bigton folk we will be visiting south mainland once more in 2023, going into Dunrossness Primary and Sandwick Junior schools, working with the Bigton Band, and performing at Hymhus (Bigton Kirk).

from 2023:
”On behalf of the staff and children, I would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone on the CHROMA team for a fantastic week of creativity and fun! The children fully immersed themselves in every activity and the whole community were extremely proud of their performance on Saturday night. The concert was beautiful and we were mesmerised by the musical pieces. We are very grateful and look forward to next time! “
Gillian Maxwell, Head Teacher, Fair Isle School

“The bairns really enjoyed the day, and I cannot believe how it all came together. Two of my bairns are in the school, one was part of the musical group and one in the dance group. Both have raved about Friday and really enjoyed it.”
Louise Leslie, Acting Head, Dunrossness Primary

Team Armada 1588

Stuart King, clarinettist and Artistic Director of CHROMA
Claire Shovelton, CHROMA Producer, photographer
Caroline Balding, violin
Jo Turner, bassoon and textile artist Lydia Griffiths oboe and cor anglais

#armada1588
@chromaensemble

from our 2021 visit:
"We were so happy to have the wonderful Chroma return to Fair Isle this autumn.  Each and every member of the group brings so much to Fair Isle - of course beautiful music, but also fun and engaging creative workshops for all ages - something quite special when we live in the UK's most remote island community.
The Fair Isle children get an incredible introduction to classical music and the joy it brings.  Chroma is not just a group of visiting artists; they have become true friends of the community and they enrich our lives here."
Eileen Thomson, Fair Isle Community Association

“thank you  so much for the great work you did with school children. The processes worked through, skills practiced and knowledge shared along with so much creativity has very much enhanced the children’s curriculum this term and beyond”
Ruth Stout, Head Teacher, Fair Isle School