We are delighted to announce that the second of The Seven Hills Project new music commissions, 'Imagined Conversation on Blackford Hill' by Tom David Wilson, will have its online premiere today, Wednesday 22nd December at 5pm. The new work is performed by clarinettist Sally Day and St Mary’s Music School pupils, Hester, Daisy and Alexander.
When asked about his inspiration for the new work, Tom said
"The opportunity to write this piece and bring it to such a fruition has been very special to me. I jumped at the chance to respond to the text on Blackford Hill for two reasons: my wife Emma and I had done the walk so beautifully described by Alexander McCall Smith, and the subject matter of looking into deep space from the observatory is very inspiring. I consider scientists and science to be artistic and creative. One cannot be a scientist, working at the cutting edge, without an extraordinarily creative imagination."
We are also very pleased to include additional context for the piece through a recorded conversation between Tom David Wilson and Professor John Peacock, Professor of Cosmology in the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh which will be available to view at the same time.
The links to the recordings are :
'Imagined Conversation on Blackford Hill'
https://youtu.be/0Z1ljgwIZ9s
Discussion between Tom David Wilson and Professor Jon Peacock, The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
https://youtu.be/rHiyRHDQIPQ