Traditional tune part of the 'healing process' in Moray in wake of Covid pandemic
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THE Beauty of Moray was premiered to a local audience and elicited an emotional response as part of a Covid reflection project.
Musicians Duncan Chisholm and Hamish Napier composed the traditional tune for Remembering Together Moray.
That was the local element of a national project to reflect on the Covid pandemic and how communities came through the trauma.
The concert took place at Fochabers Public Institute on September 22.
Duncan Chisholm said: "Remembering Together is about reflection and connection with the people of Moray through art. To have been given the opportunity to create a piece of music for Moray was an incredible honour.”
Mhairi Marwick of Arc Sessions helped organise the free concert.
The tune was also performed at two local care homes, Anderson's and Speyside, and Mosstodloch and Milne's primary schools ahead of the concert.
And the musicians also held a compositional workshop with local young musicians, many of whom also took part in the concert.
The project had seen pop-up soundwalks in local venues across three weekends where people could listen through headphones to a 20-minute audio piece using words, poetry, music and singing to give people a chance to reflect on their own memories of Covid.
One of the lead artists, Graeme Roger of Wildbird, said: "The Beauty of Moray was really powerful stuff. The concert was amazing."
The tune was named after a breed of apple found at nearby Gordon Castle in Fochabers.
Added Graeme: "The soundwalks and the concert have seen a phenomenal reaction. Many people talked about the chance to look back at a time when we are moving forward again at 100 miles an hour."
The final part of the project will see a book published by author Chris Lee, a fictional story but drawing on real life experiences of Covid in Moray.
Caroline Inckle, of Studio Constella, was the other lead artist and she captured feedback following the concert.
"Covid made me so sad," said one person. "This concert has started the healing process. Thank you Duncan and Hamish."
Another concert-goer added: "I found lockdown very difficult. It is so wonderful to be able to get out and about, especially to hear good entertainment again. Live music makes such a difference to one's wellbeing.
It is nice to have a new tune to pass down the generations as a legacy from this time, said someone who greatly enjoyed the concert.
"I enjoyed gathering with kindred spirits again in person and being able to thrive, encourage and enjoy being part of a physical (not virtual) community. We are social souls who thrive on interactions," said another member of the audience.
The concert clearly stirred emotions in one person who simply said: "Wonderfully emotive. I had tears in my eyes and joy in my heart. A thoughtful and creative way to reflect on a time no one was left unchanged by."
Another comment read: "During Covid we lost friends, neighbours and with them, some of the stories and history of this wonderful county we all call home. To produce the tales and the legacy of music, tales of the land and sea, is a mighty and worthy challenge."
Uplifting and inspiring was another person's description of the evening.
"Being a part of this music was very healing and so beautiful. The performances were all amazing and very healing," added someone else there on the night.
