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Timothy Cooper is a composer and performer of electroacoustic music. Tim’s work is often collaborative, working with musicians, artists, and poets amongst others. Since 2019, Tim has been working with Ensemble 1604 composing a concert length show called Shadows That In Darkness Dwell that explores the music and life of English renaissance composer John Dowland. Click Here to purchase the album and head over to The Night With... festival page for tickets and info! Track List: Labyrinth Shadows That in Darkness Dwell - I. Flow Shadows That in Darkness Dwell - II. Fled Shadows That in Darkness Dwell - III. Darkness The Narrow Way Semper Melancholia Whose Heavenly Touch Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://timothy-cooper.co.uk/ https://thenightwith.com/ https://ensemble1604.wordpress.com/

Henry McPherson is a musician and artist working across composition, improvisation, and pedagogical practices. His work has been shown internationally across diverse settings – from concert halls to galleries, bathrooms to dance studios, parks and warehouses to cafes, virtual halls and radio. His current creative interests lie in the intersections of improvisation performance and ecology, which is reflected in his upcoming opera Maud, performed by Scottish Opera's Young Company at the end of July. Track List: Moss Gardens No. 1 Moss Gardens No. 3 - II. Slow Dance Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://www.henrymcpherson.org.uk/ https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/

In this episode we caught up with Neil Tòmas Smith and discussed his upcoming album Stop Motion Music. The CD has been several years in the making and features musicians from across genres including Carla Rees on flutes and Delia Stevens on percussion, as well as harpist Esther Swift, cellists Duncan Strachan and Justyna Jablonska and jazz drummer Simon Roth. Neil is fascinated by the connections between sound, space and movement and with each new piece, takes the chance to explore something new, leading to a diverse range of work. Track List: Stop Motion Music Scaffold For Simon Manual The Music Lesson Progressions Of Memory Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://ntsmusic.co.uk/

Gemma McGregor is a freelance composer, performer and curator from Orkney, whose music has been described as polystylistic, whilst crossing the boundaries of musical genres. Gemma has been writing music with a sense of place either by referencing sounds from the environment, history or dialect poetry. Gemma plays Orkney traditional music and has researched its links with Norwegian music. Much of her music contains references to speech rhythms and a strong connection to Norn, the lost language of Orkney. In this episode we chat about Gemma's collaboration with Nordic Viola on their Sagas and Seascapes, as well as previous instrumental and vocal works. With special thanks to performers: A Slaughter of Ravens Jože Kotar and Luca Ferrini Carry His Relics Katherine Wren and Gemma McGregor Love Was His Meaning Godolphin School Girls Choir and Katie Salomon (Harp) Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://gemmamcgregor.com/  

Gareth Williams is a composer and songwriter making work that ranges from opera, theatre and songwriting to chamber and orchestral music. His compositions seek to find new relationships, participants, collaborators and audiences for new opera, music theatre, and song, to shed light on stories and communities that have been overlooked, and to explore ideas of vulnerability in vocal writing. He has created three award-winning operas NOISE opera since 2012, each one bringing a new collaborator to the genre, from the patrons of Glasgow's oldest bar, the Shetland fiddler Chris Stout and the Scottish indie band, Admiral Fallow. Gareth has recently written Rubble with librettist Johnny McKnight, a new opera for Scottish Opera is being premiered in July 2022.   Music featured: Rubble Rocking Horse Winner The Song from the last page of Lanark   Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames.   Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://www.garethwilliamsmusic.com/

In this episode we chat to Fergus Hall about everything from composing with hydrophone recordings, Hamish Henderson's poetry and jellyfish raves! Fergus is a composer and musician from the west of Scotland whose creative practice is focused around how a musician can act as a creative facilitator. This stems from Fergus’ interests in jazz and traditional music practices which often blur the distinction between composer and performer. As a composer, he has been commissioned by Glasgow New Music Expedition, Nevis Ensemble, Sound and Music, Making Music UK and An Tobar. A new album of string music recorded in collaboration with Sequoia is due to be released this summer.   With special thanks to performers On Sonorous Seas Lea Shaw - Voice Crossing the Simeto Sequoia Jellyfish Music Long Green Jaws Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames.   Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://www.fergushallmusic.com/

Born in Inverness in 1976, Stuart MacRae has established himself as one of the most distinctive of contemporary composers. Stuart’s music has been performed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival, by ensembles including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble and London Sinfonietta. Often inspired by aspects of natural landscape, Stuarts music draws on various strands of European modernism including the music of Stravinsky, Carter, Xenakis and most significantly, Maxwell Davies.   I am Prometheus Ursa Minor Cladonia bellidiflora Dark Liquid With special thanks to performers: Hebrides Ensemble   Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://stuartmacrae.com  

Rūta Vitkauskaitė is a composer, performer and curator whose work in music crossesconventional boundaries. She studied at the Lithuanian Academy of Music before moving toLondon to complete her PhD at The Royal Academy of Music. Her music has been described as'resembling natural forces - seemingly unorganised and chaotic forces sticking together a highly dynamic, vital and unpredictable whole, always generating an active emotion'. While living in the UK, ​Rūta has developed an interest in music education and is currently initiator of CoMA, Contemporary Music for All, Glasgow branch.   Daina apie medį, upę, jūrą ir žemę (Song about the tree, river, sea and earth) ChrysalisLithuanian National Orchestra and Jude Carlton CanntaireachdJoanna Nicholson (Bass Clarinet) - Part of Modern Chants Project   Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/ https://rutavitkauskaite.weebly.com/  

Janet Beat is a composer living in Scotland whose impressive career spans back to the late 1950’s. She is widely considered to be a pioneer of electronic music in Britain and in 2019, Janet was the first person to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Scottish Women Inventing Music, a collection of music creators and industry professionals pushing for gender equality in the music industry. Now at 83, her music has been officially released for the first time with her debut album “Pioneering Knob Twiddler”.   Dancing on Moonbeams Lighthouses Waltz Echoes from Bali A Willow Swept by Rain Piangam   Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/      

In this episode we caught up with Rufus Isabel Elliot who told us about OVER/AT, a trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse music-making world, as well as telling us about upcoming releases of Rufus's own music. Rufus is a composer and musician from Tower Hamlets, based now near Gairloch. In the last couple of years, Rufus has worked with the likes of Sound Festival Scotland, Red Note Ensemble, Magnetic North, and the Nevis Ensemble, with whom it was composer-in-residence in 2019. Current projects include a new album with composer/violinist Harry Gorski-Brown, and a new longer-form vocal piece with Scots traditional singer Josie Vallely. Rufus produces OVER / AT, which encompasses live touring projects, recording projects, workshops, online learning resources, and more. The first OVER / AT E.P. was released in March – FOLKS' SONGS, and OVER / AT #1 was shortlisted for a Scottish Award for New Music. With special thanks to performers: Are We?Malin Lewis PASSHarry Gorski-Brown Achilles LyreAndrew Herrington Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.ambf.co.uk/ https://www.ambf.co.uk/over-at https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/  

In this episode we chat to composer, collaborator, sound designer and concert producer Matthew Whiteside. As a composer, Matthew has received international performances by ensembles and performers such as the RTÉ NSO, Red Note Ensemble, the Aurea Quartet, Pauline Kim Harris and Diagenesis Duo at venues such as New York University, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, Glasgow City Halls, Salem Artworks in New York and the Belfast International Festival at Queen’s. Most recently Matthew's piece Night Thoughts was shortlisted for a Scottish New Music Award 2021 for Large Ensemble (Sponsored by PRS). As well as being a composer, Matthew is also founder and programme of the The Night With... a concert series featuring interesting music in informal spaces. In 2020 The Night With... won the SMIA Award for Creative Programming at the Scottish Awards for New Music as well as winning the Award for Recording of New Music at the awards in 2021 for The Night With... Live Vol. One album. With special thanks to performers: Night ThoughtsCrash Ensemble Mesmerism (Written by Paul Mac, Arranged by Jessica Wells)Ensemble Offspring Quartet No. 6Aurea Quartet Well, Well, WellRed Note Ensemble Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.matthewwhiteside.co.uk/ http://thenightwith.com/ https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/  

In this episode we chat about to Ailie about her recent success at the Scottish Awards for New Music where her piece Skydance won the 'Dorico Award for Solo Work' (sponsored by Steinberg). We also discuss field recordings, motherhood, and a very squeaky gate! Ailie is a multi-award winning composer, performer and creative curator whose work crosses the boundaries of traditional and contemporary music. Winner of the ‘Achievement in New Music’ prize at the inaugural New Music Scotland Awards, Ailie has received commissions, awards, and residences from the PRS Foundation Creative Scotland, Enterprise Music Scotland, the CCA, Culture Ireland, Celtic Connections, EIFF, and CALQ Montreal. Recent commissions include pieces for the 2019 BBC Proms, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sound Festival, the Riot Ensemble, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Bang on a Can, the Dunedin Consort, and the Glasgow School of Art Choir. With special thanks to performers: Skydance - for CelloLouise McMonagle (Cello) 1 in 4 - for Vocal TrioEXAUDI Dun Shith - for Double Bass and ElectronicsWill Yaeger (Double Bass) Ear to the Ground keeps you in the loop with interviews and gig alerts from Scotland’s top-notch composers. Hosted by Aileen Sweeney and Ben Eames. Sound edited by Mia Eames. Website Links: https://www.ailierobertson.com/ https://www.eartothegroundscotland.com/