Forth Valley College Sound Production students used their technical skills to record the world premier of ‘Adrift, Alight, Alive: Three Portraits of St. Blane, at Dunblane Cathedral recently.
The group of three second year students attended the event on Saturday 24 September to record the piece of music which had been specially commissioned to celebrate Dunblane Cathedral Arts Guild’s 40th Anniversary.
It was composed by Suzanne Parry - who happens to be the wife of Ewan John, a Lecturer in FVC’s Creative Industries Department - and featured Organ, choir and the Scottish Brass quintet - an outstanding ensemble of top class players and was directed by Michael Bawtree.
Micha Nye (22) from Dunblane and an HND Sound Production student at FVC, said:
“I remember coming here for services when I was at primary school, but this event was something else. To work on a live project like this was a great experience and to record the sound on an acoustic performance rather than the rock music we are more used to, will be very useful to us in the future.
“We were all very pleased with the results and the recording sounds brilliant. I am looking to working on my next live project.”
Zack Dysart (18) from Alloa, also an HND Sound Production student at FVC, said:
“Saturday night was great and the cathedral alone was outstanding. It was my first time recording in an environment such as this and I certainly wasn't unhappy about it.
“The performers was all very talented and that always makes the experience much more enjoyable. All the performers treated us so kindly and it was very kind of them to invite us to eat with them. I am very happy with how it went, everyone was so very kind, and talented, and by using pro-industry equipment we were able to capture the audio with clarity resulting in it sounding natural. I am also very thankful for Forth Valley College and Colin for inviting me along to help out.”
Ruth Bamforth, Chairman of Dunblane Cathedral Arts Guild said:
“I am delighted that not only was Suzanne able to have her new work recorded, but also students at FVC were able to experience a new situation and set of problems for their understanding of live recording. FVC’s involvement gave an extra educational dimension to the reach of our commission, which had already encompassed primary school creative music-making and community artwork.
“I was very impressed with the students who worked with us at Saturday’s concert. They were mindful of the setting, respectful of the Cathedral and its historic fabric, helpful and responsive to the safety problems we encountered, and worked cheerfully and courteously for a very long day! How they managed to be so unobtrusive during the concert is a mystery – no doubt all down to meticulous planning. Now the link has been forged, I hope DCAG will be able to contribute further to extending the learning of students on FVC’s Sound Production course.”
FVC Creative Industries Curriculum Manager, Colin McGeoch, said:
“The students undertook a fairly sophisticated location recording of this event, and it was a great opportunity to build on skills they have acquired at college and utilise these in a real world environment. We are all very proud of their efforts on the night and I am sure they enjoyed themselves.”