Caithness pianist James Ross inspired by home in the far north for new album, Landscape to Light
The new CD by Caithness pianist and composer James Ross has been inspired by the scenery of the far north and the work of the celebrated Dunbeath author, Neil Gunn.
Landscape to Light, which takes its title from a series of essays by Gunn, is to be released next month but started life two years ago.
Ross, who comes from Wick but now stays and works in Glasgow, first performed the music as part of the John O’Groats Book Festival in 2022 after a week’s residency at the Lyth Arts Centre with the internationally-renowned Maxwell String Quartet.
The music developed from there, although the themes in the work stayed the same. It was then recorded in Edinburgh by producer Calum Malcolm and will be released as a CD on June 21.
Ross, who is 44, said: “The music became more expansive and developed compositionally and we used the strings more for the CD. I am delighted with it and it is lovely to have the connection with home in the music.”
Asked what his hopes are for the release he said: “To bring the music to a wider audience and take it on tour. It has been a long time in the making so it will be good to bring it to light and to life.”
The work is rooted in Caithness and the writing of Neil Gunn but also in local folklore, tragedy and the Flow Country.
The album features nine tracks. Landscape to Light takes its inspiration from Gunn's evocative description of land, sea and nature in his collection of essays of the same name.
The Piper of Windy Ha’ is based on a Caithness folk tale while The Grey Coast, the title of Gunn’s debut novel, celebrates the majestic Caithness scenery. The Swilkie is named after the dangerous whirlpool in the Pentland Firth, well-known for the strength of its tidal currents.
Flow Country is inspired by the largest blanket peatland in Europe, while Sundew takes its title from the carnivorous plant which survives in the Flow Country and flowers in summer. Fairy Hill, known locally as Fairies Hillock, lies along the Wick River while Black Saturday commemorates the tragic events of August 1848 when 37 Wick fishermen drowned in a ferocious storm, leaving behind 17 widows and 63 children. Seafarers Hymn is a piece dedicated to the many who lost their lives at sea off Scotland’s north mainland coast.
The CD has other connections with the far north as Wick writer Colin MacDonald wrote the liner notes for the CD, while drawings of the Flow Country by Magi Sinclair from Latheron are used for the album artwork.
MacDonald, who is based in Edinburgh, said: “It was a privilege to be asked by James to write the liner notes for the album, which is a remarkable evocation of the Caithness landscape and surrounding waters. James is taking his music to another level here. His star is definitely on the rise.
“I was lucky enough to see James perform in Glasgow during Celtic Connections – and his music stilled a packed concert hall and brought massive acclaim at the end.”
Ross, who teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, has worked with various ensembles including Mr McFall’s Chamber, Wallace Collection and now the Maxwell Quartet. He recently joined forces with prolific author Alexander McCall Smith to create a song cycle called These are the Hands, exploring Scotland’s relationship with the sea and land.
He has also worked with the novelist James Robertson to create a musical adventure The Boy and The Bunnet.
Ross still has family in Caithness. Mam and dad, James and Julie Ross and his sister Mary Sutherland live in the county and he comes up often to see them and friends.