Today starts with a music call for CHROMA to practise the brand new Galliards as composed by the bairns which Stu has integrated with the Ferrabosco, and de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance which will be used in the Fire Ships section. When the bairns arrive we canter through Cabrillas Galopando, then start working on the 2 percussive sections in the new piece.
The set is looking great, and Jo’s giant macrame is steadily growing - it looks amazing. I start to make an installation of the small macrame pieces and write out some of the journal from the Gran Grifón to display.
We run through all the sections of the new piece that involve the children - which goes very well. They remember the Sword Dance excellently (which we did on Tuesday - an age ago, considering how much we’ve thrown at them since!)
After lunch we have a crafting session making Elizabethan ruffs, more necklaces and wrapping driftwood. While we do this CHROMA rehearses – an unusual scene as music rehearsals do not usually have other activities going on in the same space! But so lovely to have everyone being creative together. The peerie bairns start with some colouring in of Elizabethan soldiers, then dance around the hall to the music, picking up ribbons to twirl like rhythmic gymnastics.
At the end of the day we put up the banner - it feels representative of the project as everyone who has come through into the hall for our sessions has done some doodling on it to colour the letters in. We also hang Jo’s giant macrame - the result is wonderful. Fiona’s set of a drowned Captain’s cabin is brilliant, with so much detail - from the distressed rigging (dragged around the car park) down to the parchment scrolls in the basket.
We do a bit of a tidy up, and look at the installation. We are rather pleased with it all!
Thank yous today from me to Stu, Caroline, Jo and Lydia who not only make wonderful music together but are a perfect team for this Shetland adventure. Joyous.
Blogging by Claire Shovelton
