Dates

• 7 Sep 2023, 9 p.m., Orkney Theatre, KGS, Kirkwall, Scotland, UK, Film event details

---

Repertoire Symphonies of Galaxies, by Eddie McGuire; Five Stars in Auriga, by Eddie McGuire; Earthrise, by Eddie McGuire; Big Bang for solo trumpet, by Eddie McGuire; Orbit for two trumpets, by Eddie McGuire

---

Description

 

Scottish composer Eddie McGuire's five astronomy-inspired pieces of music have never been played before as a complete series. Tonight, to celebrate his 75th birthday, you can hear them together, introduced by astronomer Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans of St Andrews University.

The music comes in three films specially recorded by musicians from the University, including trumpeter Bede Williams and members of the Wallace Collection. First comes the film Five Stars in Auriga, featuring Big Bang, Orbit, and Auriga itself where each instrument represents a star in the constellation. The pieces of music are interwoven with stories from the Scottish Borders of lives connected by astronomy and space – telescope maker James Veitch, astronomer and mathematician Michael Scot, scientist Mary Somerville, writers Sir Walter Scott and John Buchan. Then after a short break come Earthrise (symphonic poem for brass band) and Symphonies of Galaxies.

On Saturday evening you can hear Eddie McGuire himself, along with Bede Williams, in conversation with Anne-Marie Weijmans at the Orkney Club.

Tickets for tonights’s film performances £6 & £4

---

Performers Bede Williams, University of Saint Andrews Music New Music Group, Wallace Collection

---

Promoter Orkney International Science Festival

---

Submitted by Ewan Robertson