‘D’n’A’ – a new piece for string players from across Europe

The Bridge is a network of ensembles from across Europe who champion music for strings and celebrate the innovative ways it can be performed and shared. Scottish Ensemble is a founding partner of this network, along with Ensemble Resonanz (Germany), Trondheim Soloists (Norway) and the PLMF Music Trust (Estonia).

This summer, in 2022, we’re inviting string players to join us in creating brand new piece of music for all levels of experience: ‘D’n’A’ – by composer Sarah Freestone. This project has been developed especially to bring string players – young, amateur and professional – together to celebrate the amazing richness of our shared European string music heritage.

Open to anyone who plays a string instrument, there will be parts for just open strings, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8. Individuals can record your tracks at home, or music groups / ensembles can submit group tracks captured during a rehearsal. Audio-only and audio-visual recordings will both be accepted and you’ll only need a mobile phone with a camera to participate.

Once we have collected contributions from across Europe, we’ll edit this new work into a special film that celebrates the people and places who make it. You will have the option of having your name acknowledged in the film.

You can view the score using the link below for an advance preview of the piece. In the coming weeks, check back here for resources to help you join this project, including recordings from the Bridge partners, guides to the grooves and rhythms that feature in the work, tips on making good recordings, and more.

Watch this space for special opportunities to play alongside your home country’s ensemble live and in person too!

The piece is primarily based on the open strings of a violin and reflects that the perfect 5th which occurs in nature is a common thread across cultures and borders. There are also influences from different folk cultures as well as European classical string music; Grazyna Bacewicz’ Concerto for String Orchestra (the section from letter J), Heinrich Biber’s Battalia (the ‘Bartok’ pizz and the paper under the strings to simulate a snare) and Vivaldi, as well as harmonic influences from ancient Georgian folksong and the use of strings in film, T.V. and gaming music… Rather than a ‘side-by-side’ I really wanted the beginner and intermediate participants to have their own voices within the piece (and to get to play the fun effects!)