John Kenny/Chris Wheeler
Doric
In autumn 2004 John Kenny and Christopher Wheeler were invited by Deveron Arts to be artists in residence in the ancient town of Huntly, Aberdeenshire. Together they spent a week sampling many sound sources of Huntly and its local environment. These sound sources reflect many faces of the area, from domestic human situations to local industry, agriculture, and the natural environment, recorded at all hours of the day and night. There is a particularly magical association between this area and the carnyx, which was created by Pictish craftsmen in this area around 2000 years ago – a significant number of sounds derive from the Deskford area, where the carnyx was discovered. These sound sources were then woven into a tapestry of sound which can be projected into a performance space, against which a live performer creates new textures and commentaries. The result is in effect an electronic tone poem for trombone, recorders, carnyx, voice, and stones with Electronics, reflecting a journey through time and place, with very special reference to both the accent and cadence of the Doric speech, and the course of the River Deveron from Huntly to the sea.
Doric was premiered during a concert entitled Poemes Electroniques in Huntly at Halloween 2004.