Single Output Portfolio: Starless
- Submitting institution
-
University of the West of Scotland
- Unit of assessment
- 34 - Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
- Output identifier
- 12526493
- Type
- J - Composition
- Month
- May
- Year
- 2016
- URL
-
http://beta.uws.io/2020/03/01/ref-practice-based-research-portfolio-paul-mcgeechan/
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
1
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- Practice-based media production. Combining fragments of Scottish musical heritage, McGeechan has produced an album of songs and compositions that fuse traditional Gaelic song and elements of contemporary popular music to create a ‘memoryscape’ working with a flow of memories and associations drawn from 40 years of music making. The project features an eclectic mix of accomplished and highly respected artists, including Paul Buchanan (The Blue Nile), Karen Matheson, Julie Fowlis and the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
The project combines electronic soundscapes with elements of traditional music to invoke a rich set of cultural and sonic reference points. The manipulation of field recordings, electronic sound textures and orchestration extend genre boundaries, creating a musical assemblage that invokes diverse cultural references related to notions of Scottish identity and belonging through skilful production, arrangement and orchestration. Developing hyper-real and deliberately cinematic themes, the work draws the audience’s attention to its constructed nature: employing crossfades and ‘cut scenes’ that are in part a reaction against the ‘single play’ fragmented streaming culture of Spotify and iTunes. It is influenced by early ‘concept albums’ but uses contemporary production techniques.
The project develops a strategy for music composition, arrangement, communication and storytelling utilising a digital audio workstation as the core instrument. The digital audio workstation is not simply an editing tool: it is an instrument in its own right. The project applies digital audio processing techniques and studio practices as a fundamental compositional tool.
The project, part-funded by Creative Scotland, was released internationally by Marina Records, with commissioned live performances as part of Glasgow's international Celtic Connections festival in 2017. It received widespread airplay on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland, and 6 Music, reaching large audiences internationally via online platforms. It was longlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award in 2017.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -