This article appears as part of the Herald Arts newsletter.
Congratulations to composer Sir James MacMillan, who wears many hats including that of founder and main mover behind the Cumnock Tryst music festival, held annually in October.
Last week the Tryst won the Classical Music prize at the prestigious Sky Arts Awards in London, beating off competition from genre-spanning multi-instrumentalist Anoushka Shankar, and from Richard Blackford, who was nominated for a composition for voice and orchestra based on the work of murdered Afghan poet Nadia Anjuman. Among the judges were broadcaster Myleene Klass, saxophonist YolanDa Brown and composer Nitin Sawhney.
Over the years the Tryst has welcomed some of the true greats of the modern classical world to Ayrshire, as well as jazz musicians and assorted other musical luminaries. It also has a muscular outreach programme aimed at inspiring local musicians and celebrating (and fostering) community music-making. So ahead of the start of its 10th anniversary programme next week the Sky Arts Award is more than welcome.
Speaking to me a few days after the win, Sir James said he was delighted by it (and also a little surprised: he had expected Anoushka Shankar to pick up the prize) and revealed that the ceremony organisers had spent the afternoon ringing round various lexicological bods trying to decide on the correct pronunciation of Tryst. Is it tryst as in wrist, or tryst as in Christ? Sir James has no preference, he told me. He also revealed that he hopes to bring Anoushka Shankar to the Tryst though in “the melee” following his win he didn’t manage to ask her. So if you’re reading this, Ms Shankar…
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As interesting, engaging and thoughtful as always, Sir James had strident words too for those who ultimately hold the strings of Scotland’s arts funding purse, and strong opinions about what will happen if they are not loosed soon. This in the wake of the will-they-won’t-they arts funding delay, and the ongoing gloom about the funding decisions for creative and cultural organisations due at the end of October.
“There has never been a more dangerous moment for cultural funding than now in Scotland, and the activists have got to step up,” he told me.
“But I think the politicians have got to step up too. They must finally realise what a calamity it would be if there was that [much] damage done to Scotland’s cultural framework and reputation.”
You can read my interview with Sir James, and more on the Cumnock Tryst’s 10th anniversary, in this weekend’s Herald Saturday Magazine.
Seasonal serial thrillers
As The Herald’s Susan Swarbrick writes: “Autumn TV season is officially upon us.” Which means it’s time to start planning your viewing – which means you’ll also need a list of the best there is on offer.
Happily, Susan has compiled just such an item. So whether it’s the ninth series of Shetland, a 10-part contemporary re-imagining of The Day Of The Jackal starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, or the fourth series of Disney’s Only Murders In The Building (21 nominations and no Emmy. Seriously?) there’s something for you right now as well as in the weeks and months ahead.
Still with TV, Susan has also spent time with Sharon Small, star of new BBC drama Nightsleeper, who reveals that she would love to play a female Taggart one day if the much-loved show is ever given a dust-down and a new look. As for Nightsleeper itself, Herald TV critic Alison is less than kind in her review of the show.
And finally
Fans of 1980s indie faves The Smiths won’t want to miss Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, writer and theatre-maker Ben Harrison’s paean to the band and to those like him who found solace in their music during their tortured teenage years. Composer David Paul Jones chips in with what Herald theatre critic Neil Cooper describes as “reimaginings of leftfield 1980s pop songs” in a four star review.
The play opened this week at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre, is currently at Edinburgh’s Summerhall and rounds off a short tour at the Findhorn Bay Festival on Saturday. Neil has also been to Biggar’s new Arts At Loaningdale venue to see Braw Clan’s production of Martin Travers’s new play So Long, Wee Moon, and he has visited Dundee Rep to take in a production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake In The Grass.
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Elsewhere Brian Beacom has interviewed playwright Isla Cowan and composer/director Andy McGregor about their new collaborative work for theatre, To Save The Sea. It’s a musical taking as its subject matter the 1995 campaign by environmental group Greenpeace to prevent oil giant Shell sinking its decommissioned Brent Spar oil rig off the west coast.
The play opens at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow on September 25 then tours widely throughout October. Aberdeen saw direct action and 10 arrests in June 1995 when protestors targeted a Shell tug there, so the performance at the city’s Tivoli Theatre on October 30 may jog some memories.
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