How to Raise the Wind

String quintet: Seonaid Aitken, Patsy Reid, Katrina Lee, Sonia Cromarty, Rikard Tohen Holst

Traditional and experimental sounds unite in the music of Scottish/Finnish duo Sarah-Jane Summers and Juhani Silvola, based in Norway. Each of their four albums was awarded 'Top Of The World' status from Songlines, and their third album, The Smoky Smirr o Rain, was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy. 

How To Raise The Wind was commissioned for Nordlysfestivalen 2022 (The Northern Lights Festival, Tromsø). In this through-composed work for string quintet and the duo, they take inspiration from the fantastic worlds of Highland folk tales. The music is based on the rhythmic drive and melodic focus of traditional music, but arranged as classical/contemporary chamber music, with the quintet as structural foundation. 

Thanks to Chamber Music Scotland for co-funding this performance.