£500 prize for music inspired by nature
The deadline is looming for a contest calling on musicians of all genres – rock, rap, folk, classical or anything in between – to show their love of nature by writing music inspired by the coasts and waters of Scotland’s nature reserves.
Beinn Eighe, Creag Meagaidh and the Isle of Rum national nature reserves are among the nature reserves featured in the competition, called In Tune With Nature. The deadline for entries is May 31.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Fèis Rois have teamed up to inspire people to connect with nature through music. Entrants are invited to compose a piece of music inspired by one of 10 national nature reserves across Scotland.
The competition will be judged by a panel of well-known figures from the Scottish music industry – including Julie Fowlis, Vic Galloway, Gill Maxwell and Karine Polwart – and is part of Scotland's Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.
Winners will receive a £500 prize, as well as the opportunity to take part in live performances throughout the year. Each winner will also make a film on the nature reserve that inspired their music with a professional film-maker.
Entries can be in any style of music, and may or may not include lyrics. References to local culture, language and tradition are encouraged.
New Gaelic songs are particularly encouraged in the Beinn Eighe and Creag Meagaidh areas, as are songs written in Scots and regional dialects in other areas.
Ian Sargent, SNH's NNR manager for north and west Scotland, said: “There’s so much to be inspired by on our nature reserves, particularly during the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020. We have such an amazing variety of marine wildlife and seabirds in Scotland, as well as stunning beaches, lochs and rivers. It’s hard not to be inspired by such beauty.
“Music and nature have so much in common – they’re both moving and give us so much pleasure. We can’t wait to hear what people come up with to make us see these special places in a new light.”
Fiona Dalgetty, chief executive of Fèis Rois, said: “We at Fèis Rois are thrilled to be collaborating on this project with SNH to encourage musicians to create new work inspired by our beautiful landscapes in Scotland. We also believe that musicians have an invitation here to make a creative response to the climate challenge affecting our natural heritage in Scotland today.
"We look forward to receiving entries from all genres of musician.”
The contest opened in March and closes at the end of May, with winners announced on June 26.
The 10 reserves featured in the competition are Beinn Eighe (Ross-shire), Caerlaverock (Dumfries), Creag Meagaidh (Lochaber), Forvie (north-east), Isle of May (Firth of Forth), Loch Leven (Perthshire), Noss (Shetland), Rum (Inner Hebrides), Tentsmuir (Fife) and Taynish (Argyll).