Viewforth High School

Composers

Students discussing physics with scientists from the University of St Andrews

  • CLASS N5 and Higher Music Students
  • SCHOOL Viewforth High School, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
  • HONOURS  One student won a gold award and another, a medal at Fife Festival of Music. We have a grade 3 clarinet player in the class and one of us won the Taylor Cup for Music
  • MINERVA SCIENTIFICA PROJECT  “Echoes fae Fife”  Nov 2018 – Feb 2019

 

Scientific Connections

Some of us have done science subjects alongside our N5 Music – eg. Biology.

On the Minerva Scientifica project we worked with 4 scientists from the University of St Andrews Shine Project:- Astronomer Meng Yang and Physicists Stephanie Matern, Isla Barnard and Mari Cole.
We divided into 4 groups to talk to one of the scientists about their work and then translated it into music.

Compositions

Title:  Galaxy Morphology
Scientist: MENG YANG
Composed by: Music Students from VIEWFORTH HIGH SCHOOL, Kirkcaldy
Written in: January 2019
For: Players from  Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society, voices & piano (NB we don’t have all the live recordings so some are created from digital samples).
First Performed: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Feb 22nd, 2019 as part of “ECHOES FAE FIFE” by ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE

This is a suite of 4 pieces based on studies made by Meng Yang. Galaxy morphology is about the shapes of each galaxy and the temperatures of the way each spiral orbits and how they move in space.

“I was really glad to hear four pieces of music made from my own work! I was amazed at their imagination. Scientists can explain various morphologies of galaxies with simple and clear ideas of orbits, which I think is the charm of science.” Meng Yang

Galaxy Morphology 1
Galaxies by Annabell Laverick for  solo voice, choir & piano Performed by Annabell Laverick (solo voice), Brian Beaton (piano) and Viewforth Chorus.

“The song was so touching and I was deeply touched!” Meng Yang

I started by looking at the research and creating lyrics that worked well with it.  This became the chorus for my song. I then looked at some poems about galaxies to get some ideas for lyrics for the verses.  The chords used are repetitive to make it sound like the spirals of the galaxies.  The extra voices used create an echo-like style of space. A L

Galaxy Morphology 2
The Space Bar by Ally Carr  for Clarinet, French Horn, Violin & Cello

Stars orbit around the centre of the galaxy, orbits can be cold, warm or hot. My idea was based on the warm orbit. My idea started with playing notes and making them spiral with different branches to try and create the image of a warm orbit.

Galaxy Morphology 3
Stars of the World by Kimberley McCabe for Clarinet, French Horn, Trumpet & Tuba (digital samples mix)

I took the way each spiral orbits and used it to change the speed of each section of music. I then took the different shapes of each type of galaxy and I put each orbit speed to a specific galaxy section.

Galaxy Morphology 4
Orbits made of stars  by Megan Simpson for 2 violins & cello

I took inspiration from the three different spirals: – cold, warm and hot. I used these to create the music by making sections in for each spiral. I decided to make the cold cello to make it seem slower and darker, then I made warm and hot violins to show that it’s getting faster and higher to make the different sections more defined.

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Title:  UVA DNA
Composed by: Music Students from VIEWFORTH HIGH SCHOOL, Kirkcaldy
Written in: January 2019
For: Players from  Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society (NB we don’t have all the live recordings so some are created from digital samples)
First Performed: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Feb 22nd, 2019 as part of “ECHOES FAE FIFE” by ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE

This is a suite of 3 pieces inspired by Isla Barnard’s presentation about DNA Mutations. This is caused by an incoming UV photon hitting the DNA strand. This UV photon can come from the sun, or a sunbed.

UVA DNA 1
Imperfect Gene by Colby Sylvia Anne Scott for 2 violins & cello (digital sample mix)

The individuality of each person is determined by their personality. Like genes, they are different according to the person. My hope is that my piece of music helps to replicate a mutated DNA strand.

UVA DNA 2
Spiral of Stars by Daniel Small for flute, clarinet, bassoon & trumpet

This piece of music shows people what music sounds like when hit or disrupted in the way it changes it. Just like the UV photon changed the Strand of DNA. It also shows that you can create music from scientific studies.

UVA DNA 3
SUNBED SONG by Ellie Butler for French Horn, Trumpet, violins & cello (digital sample mix)

I have used different types of DNA strands, numbered them and used them as if they were numbers on a scale to create melodies and harmonies.
The music starts off with a healthy DNA strand which hasn’t had UV but as the UV hits, it starts to break away and fall apart. As the UV hits the strand it causes disruption, mayhem and damage to the skin, which causes my music to corrupt and ripple.

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Title:  Designer Quantum Materials
Scientist: MARI COLE
Composed by: Music Students from VIEWFORTH HIGH SCHOOL, Kirkcaldy
Written in: January 2019
For: Players from  Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society (NB we don’t have all the live recordings so some are created from digital samples)
First Performed: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Feb 22nd, 2019 as part of “ECHOES FAE FIFE” by ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE

This is a suite of 3 pieces in which each composer designed their own fantasy quantum material, combining chemical elements and layering them experimentally. They used the atomic and atomic mass numbers associated with each element to create melodies.

Quantum materials have very unusual behaviour. Thin films structures, only a few atoms thick, can be grown layer by layer by firing atoms at a substrate. Some of these materials are superconductors, which mean they transmit electricity with no loss of power.


Designer Quantum Materials 1
Momentum by Erin Brown for flute, clarinet, bassoon & trumpet (digital sample mix)

When creating this piece, I choose various elements, created a small repetitive melody for each and built them on top of each other to create my own quantum material.

Designer Quantum Materials 2
Seventeen by Olivia Nicol for flute, clarinet, bassoon & violin (digital sample mix)

I selected three elements which are Helium, Magnesium and Neptunium.

Designer Quantum Materials 3
Solipizm by Shannon Kinnaird for flute, clarinet, bassoon & violin

My piece of music was created by taking four elements and making melodies from there mass number and atomic number. I eventually layered these up to create a sense of a chemical reaction. I hoped to convey a material which would advance medical technology and with the use of moscovium radiation, help to get rid of harmful illnesses.

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Title:  Dynamics in Open Systems (Ripples on a Lake)
Scientist: STEPHANIE MATERN
Composed by: Music Students from VIEWFORTH HIGH SCHOOL, Kirkcaldy
Written in: January 2019
For: Players from  Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society and singers from electric voice theatre (NB we don’t have all the live recordings so some are created from digital sample)
First Performed: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Feb 22nd, 2019 as part of “ECHOES FAE FIFE” by ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE

This is a suite of 4 pieces inspired by the work of Stephanie Matern.  Her research is on dynamics in open systems (ripples in a lake).


Dynamics in Open Systems (Ripples on a Lake) 1
Commotion in the Calm by Sean Hamilton for clarinet, horn in F, violin and cello

The music starts off very calm, you feel as if you are sailing on a peaceful lake. Then suddenly the calm lake is hit with commotion and organised madness. Ripples form, creating a satisfying beautiful pattern. The lake is frantic and wild.  After the commotion and mania, the ripples fade out and the river becomes still and tranquil again. Peaceful. Calm.

Dynamics in Open Systems (Ripples on a Lake) 2
Drop In The Loch by Erin O’Connor for Clarinet, Tuba, violin & cello (digital samples mix)

When two magnets are facing opposite each other one will move and the other one will stay fixed in one spot. When this happens the magnets create ripples in the water. This also works with music. My music helps to convey this as it is calm and then a sudden splash, creating ripples….

Dynamics in Open Systems (Ripples on a Lake) 3
Dreamy Droplets by Sophie Easson for violins, cellos & 2 solo voices

Before a droplet hits the water its still, peaceful but when it does hit, ripples occur causing spirals of force to appear. I went with the spirals more so than the chaos that happens so in this piece you will hear some repetition that symbolises the circular movements of the ripples. Trills add the chaotic effect and you will hear different sections of time and movement.

Dynamics in Open Systems (Ripples on a Lake) 4
RESEARCHING RIPPLES by Demi Smart for horn in F, Trumpet & Tuba

Before the water starts to ripple, it is calm which is how the music starts off. Then when the ripples hit it the music changes, gets faster, louder and more  ‘hectic’. Over time the music fades out and gradually returns to the calm water, to resemble how the ripples fade out.

Education

The classes all play xylophone and many play guitar, keyboards and drums and sing in the choir. There are a few students who play other instruments like clarinet, bass clarinet, cello and piano and we have quite a few good solo singers.

We all have 6 periods of music a week (45mins)with our Music Teachers,  Brian Beaton and Claire Bebbington

Occupations

There are a number of talented singers, musicians and composers who will probably go on to be professionals. Some already play in professional settings and others are interested in science:

I might change my mind later and choose science because I find physics interesting, but for the moment I am into art!

I performed at my dad’s wedding, playing guitar & performed and sang in a pantomime.

I am always involved in musicals, plays, touring shows, concerts and showcases

I want to be a mechanical engineer

Musical Highlights

There were many highlights during our Minerva Scientifica Project “ECHOES FAE FIFE”

It was an amazing experience to speak with the BBC singer and awesome scientists!

The thing I most remember about the performance was the orchestra.

Thanks to your amazing research you made this whole concert possible!

In the show The March of the Women of Science (originally composed by MARY MAXWELL CAMPBELL) stood out because it was so powerful

I enjoyed creating my own music and experimenting with different instruments.

Did You Know?

Our music was performed by players from the Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society conducted by Graeme Wilson

One thing I can remember from the performance is hearing my piece from a real orchestra which was mind blowing.

Hearing my own piece of music being played is something I will always remember.

The instruments inspired me to write and the photos from the scientists because it made me more creative.

An Inspiring Woman

Music:

Frances was so helpful & was amazing to work with

Thank you so much for teaching and introducing me to music and science combined. I never even knew that was possible

Science:

I particularly remember the historical women and their fascination in science!

I was inspired by the scientists and their amazing interest in their subjects. 

The scientists were so clever & made it very fun!

Links