Three Carriages
Recorded as part of the Adopt a Composer Scheme, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium. October 2019.
Da Capo Alba, conducted by Barbara Pomerenke-Steel.
Written as part of the Adopt a Composer scheme 2019.
Listen to the Nicholas Olsen and members of Da Capo Alba talk about the compositional process on BBC Radio 3. (BBC Sounds)
Programme Note
When I first met Da Capo Alba, I was excited to explore what makes a mandolin and guitar orchestra based near East Kilbride tick. It wasn’t long before I discovered their shared love for the camaraderie of their ensemble, their heritage, and Scotland. I was keen to use these themes while adding a few of my own interests along the way.
Three Carriages explores the work song of Irish Navvies on the Scottish Railroads, a runaway train, and the exhausted creaking of locomotives at a railway siding at the end of a long day.
I’d like to extend a special thank you to David Horne for his mentorship on this project, to Barbara Pommerenke-Steel for her insight and knowledge, and to all in Da Capo Alba for putting up with my bad jokes, but most importantly for making music with me.
Three Carriages is that culmination of our work together as part of the Adopt a Composer scheme, funded by the PRS Foundation and the Philip and Dorothy Green Music Trust, and run by Making Music, in partnership with Sound and Music and BBC Radio 3.