Local composer Nan Avant is one of eight composers who have been invited to create original pieces for a night of global music at Benaroya Hall.
The different cultures represented range from the European nations like Spain, Hungary and Scotland to the more distant Australia and Persia. Other diversity is provided by the Caribbean and Appalachia.
The concert will feature virtuoso soloists for each piece, accompanied by a chamber orchestra of some of the finest symphonic musicians in Seattle.
Nan has composed a piece called Tributum, created to invoke the Isle of Skye, one of Scotland's largest isles off its West Coast.
Her website describes Tributum as:
'A concert work for Irish Bagpipes, called the Uilleann Pipes and the Great Highland Bagpipes of Scotland, also called the War Pipes,' 'adding that 'Both of these traditional instruments have unique qualities and Tributum embraces each instrument's extraordinary character.'
Nan explained what drove her to compose a piece about my native country:
"I have always loved the music from Scotland and Ireland, the sound of the Great Highland Bagpipes, indicative of Scotland's ruggedness and beauty, the stirring power of the drone juxtaposed against a melodic tune, creates images of Glencoe, the coast and the Isle of Skye.
And, Ireland's Uilleann pipes, often featured in film scores because of their beautifully poignant tone and lyrical air, offers visions of rolling hills in the Emerald Isle. As the eight composers were selecting countries of origin for their compositions, someone mentioned "Bagpipes", I immediately knew I wanted to create a piece with Scotland and Ireland in mind. And so Tributum began."
Tributum is one of eight pieces being played at Benaroya Hall on March 24 as part of their Celebrate World Music! night.
The piece will be conducted by David Sabee who was the Winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Classical Album.
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