Five Highland Scenes
for violin and piano
Instrumentation:
vln.pf
Duration:
15'
Out on the Hills was originally titled The Graig, and written, for solo violin only, to accompany poetry by Oli Hazzard. Both were recorded by Benjamin Baker (with Richard Uttley on Snowbells) and broadcast on 3 October and 12 December 2016 respectively. 
Returning to these two short pieces at various points throughout 2017 and 2018, I began to think about reworking and combining them as part of a cycle of five miniatures for violin and piano. Both of the original works deliberately conjured images of nature and the outdoors. Following a solo cycling and walking trip I made in 2017 I began to contemplate further exploring this theme in the remaining movements. (Mostly) fond recollections of the tendency for Scottish mountain weather to cycle between extremes of sun, gentle snow and heavy downpours all within a single day inspired the broad range of musical characters and evolving textures of the piece.
Movements I and III (Out on the Hills and Snowbells) were previously written on Sound and Music's Embedded programme as part of the Embedded: Radio 3's Composer in 3 project and premiered in collaboration with BBC Radio 3.
Recording available on Matthew Kaner: Chamber Works released by Delphian Records. Performed by Benjamin Baker (vln) and Daniel Lebhardt (pf).
Performances
1 September 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Rothesay Trinity Church, Isle of Bute, Scotland
1 Septmeber 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Ardrishaig Public Hall, Lochgilphead, Scotland
20 July 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), St Botolph's Church, Cambridge Summer Music
8 June 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Concerts in the West, The Dance House, Crewkerne
6 May 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Concerts in the West, Ilminster Arts Centre
5 May 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Concerts in the West, Bridport Arts Centre
3 April 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Kirker Music Festival, Lake Como, Italy
27 March 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), The Garrick Club, London
11 February 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Darlington Music Society
14 January 2023 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Oxshott and Cobham Music Society
23 November 2022 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), The Red Hedgehog (album launch concert)
21 January 2022 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Stapleford Granary
3 July 2021 Benjamin Baker (vln) & Daniel Lebhardt (pf), Bow House, East Neuk Festival