When These Rocks Were Still Young
A film inspired by the ancient and mysterious landscapes of Scotland
INSPIRATION
/// This project first emerged as a seed, a glimpse of an unshaped idea, in August 2019.
The idea: turn a campervan into a mobile studio and spend 6 weeks travelling Scotland. A retreat of sorts: immersing in the land and creating music inspired by these wild places.
This seed soon germinated into a more fully-formed vision: a largish multi-media work for piano, percussion, electronics, alongside still and moving images gathered on the journey. An hour long solo work, to be performed live on tour around Scotland and the UK. This would morph into something different over the coming months, but the heart of the idea would remain the same.
The first part of the project was made possible by the generosity and vision of friends and strangers around the world. A campervan donated. A crowdfunder which raised enough for expenses. After a beautiful and creative 6 weeks on the road, the following months saw the pandemic intervene, and the possibility of performing anything live disappeared.
Things sat on the back burner.
Then in 2021, a new impulse: instead of the live performances and tour, a film. Creative Scotland saw the potential and awarded some funding for the project. Julie Fowlis and Webb St Studios were approached at this stage. Things were moving again, and in May 2021 we assembled for 3 days of filming on set and on location. Several weeks of post-production later, we were ready to share our project with the world.
When These Rocks Were Still Young.
A love letter to Scotland, in all its deep, wild, mysterious and rugged beauty.
Watch the complete film below.
Scroll further down for more programme notes / artist info / behind the scenes content.
WATCH
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ARTISTS
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is a composer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Scotland.
He has performed all over the world, primarily with his percussion duo, O Duo, with whom career highlights include playing for the Last Night of the BBC Proms In The Park, as well as delivering the World Premiere of Stephen McNeff’s ConcertO Duo in the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s 80th Birthday Gala performance in the Barbican Hall, London. Oliver has also played in the ensemble of Disney’s The Lion King and in 2012 performed in the London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony alongside Dame Evelyn Glennie.
As a composer, his work has been performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and ensembles from City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He takes inspiration from the natural world, the intersection of consciousness and technology, and his meditation practice, where the quest for experiences of ‘more’ continue to power his creative path.
/// OLIVER COX
is Kare Khoo and Ali Webb. Collaborating since 2014, they have produced music videos and documentaries for emerging artists and established labels including The Ayoub Sisters, Hayley Reardon and Universal Music.
Currently working between the UK and Thailand, they are passionate about creating experiences that connect people to one another and the world around them. Sustainability is at the heart of Webb Street Studios’ ethos, and in recognition of a need to protect our changing world, Kare and Ali strive to embody this message on and off screen.
/// WEBB ST STUDIOS
/// JULIE FOWLIS
is a multi-award winning Gaelic singer who is deeply influenced by her early upbringing in the Outer Hebridean island of North Uist. With a career spanning five studio albums and numerous high profile collaborations, her ‘crystalline’ and ‘intoxicating’ vocals have enchanted audiences around the world.
She will forever be recognised for singing the theme songs to ‘Brave’, Disney Pixar’s Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning animated film, set in the ancient highlands of Scotland.
A quiet torchbearer for her native tradition, Julie still finds time to deepen her knowledge of Highland and Gaelic culture, tradition and history through continued research and academic projects. In addition to her two degrees (a BA Honours in Applied Music and an MA in Material Culture & The Environment), she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.
ADDITIONAL COLLABORATORS
/// George Cort - lighting design
/// Evie Turner - production assistant
/// Mike Guest - underwater filming
/// Alex Nail - time-lapse film and still photography
/// Kirk Watson - drone filming
/// Steven Marshall - still photography
/// The Mart - live performance venue
/// Alex Cox - flyer design
MOVEMENTS
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1. OPENING
An introduction to the music, themes and imagery of the project. This begins softly and intimately, before opening out into something broader and more expansive featuring piano, percussion and electronics.
2. INVOCATION
The first of two collaborations with Julie, this uses a stanza of an ancient Celtic poem ‘The Deer Cry’. The musical ideas for this emerged during my time in the Cairngorms. I hear it like an invocation to the spirits of the land.
3. FLYING
A more abstract number, inspired by watching eagles and other birds soar over the land and sea.
4. WAVES
This number is mainly inspired by my relationship to our coast and the sea. And in particular a misty morning when a swim became a spiritual experience.
5. FOUR WINDS OF SCOTLAND
The second number co-written with Julie. This one is a setting of a poem by George Campbell Hay (see below)
6. GREEN MAN
Music inspired by the magnificent and mysterious fairy woodlands and ancient oaks of the Loch Sunart area, in particular Ariundle Oakwoods in Strontian.
7. STARS
Many a night on my trip I would stand or sit outside and gaze up to the night sky in its cosmic glory. If the wide open spaces of Scotland’s land make me feel big and expansive, then the contemplation of the night sky is on a different level again. This is an electronic / synth number which feels like a journey to the stars.
8. VOLCANO
You can’t spend time in the mountainous parts of Scotland without getting a sense of its violent volcanic past. Wow! The forces which created these geological works of art over millennia were massive. A wild trio for three Bass drums and synths to bring the work to a climax. This one also features Julie, in a reprise / remix of the Invocation.
9. RIPPLES
And finally, a moment of stillness. This is a simple piano piece. Music written during the Spring lockdown in North Berwick, where, amongst the chaos and confusion of that time, I connected deeply with the coast and beaches of North Berwick through daily walks, aided by glorious weather and spectacular sunsets.
NOTES
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Ali Webb / Kare Khoo: This project was the definition of collaboration for us as filmmakers. It’s a rarity that we get to come up with film concepts as the music is being composed - it was like a dance that we three did for over a year. That meant we had the pleasure of hearing Oliver’s music from his rough mixes to the final audio that is now in the film. It was a wonderful challenge for us to come up with ideas for each movement that would honour the landscapes as well as Oliver’s responses to them.
We also wanted to acknowledge Oliver’s initial plan to tour these movements live somehow. Facing the question of how do we bridge the two worlds of live shows and film, that’s where digital and overhead projector came in. It was an interactive way to bring the landscapes into the indoor, performative space.
Oliver himself kept a journal when he was on the trip, and when he shared what he had written with us, it felt like we had gained a deeper insight into the origin of this project. And so by sprinkling documentary-like elements throughout, we wanted to create another layer of understanding for the audience. An intimate moment, almost a getting-to-know Oliver through this window into his train of thoughts.
LOCATION
/// A selection of Oliver’s photos from his journey around Scotland
SET
/// Behind-the-scenes, publicity shots, and stills from filming
THANK YOU
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who made this project possible.
From the artistic team to the supporting crew, from Creative Scotland to the dear friends who donated to the crowdfunder back in August 2019, none of this would have happened without all of your support.
OTHER PROJECTS
/// COMPOSITION
/// PERCUSSION
/// EDUCATION