IT IS probably his most unusual gig yet, but piper Harry Gorski-Brown is used to pushing the envelope when it comes to music and performance.
The 27-year-old, who lives in Dennistoun in Glasgow’s East End, will be wandering among the ornate and precious artefacts of The Burrell Collection for a very different kind of concert with Scottish Ensemble.
The free event, Echoes of the Burrell, is part of the city’s Sonica Festival, which runs from September 19 to 29 at a range of venues, from the IMAX big screen to the Govanhill Baths.
Viola player Jane Atkins will lead the Ensemble in a programme of classical and modern music, from Ravel to Nina Simone, inspired by the Pollok Park museum’s environment and exhibits.
The audience promenades along with the musicians, giving people the chance to see the artefacts and building in a whole new light.
“I’m pretty chuffed about it,” says Harry, who started playing the pipes in primary school.
“Since the Burrell re-opened, everyone raves about it. I’m looking forward to seeing it properly, with Scottish Ensemble, playing their tunes in and around it all. The building is gorgeous.”
Music has been part of Harry’s life since his early childhood. He grew up in Stirling, learned Gaelic at school and used to sing in a Gaelic choir, taking part in the provisional and nationals Mods.
After learning fiddle and whistle, he started chanter in primary and then studied violin performance in Glasgow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland during which he gravitated towards experimental composition.
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Harry still plays fiddle, for Shetland saxophonist Norman Willmore, and he often includes elements of electroacoustic and traditional music in his work.
For the Burrell event he will be playing music from his album Durt Dronemaker After Dreamboats, which blends voice, pipes, fiddle, organ, bouzouki and electronics.
Harry is also teaming up with French electronica artist Annabelle Playe for a second Sonica event. The duo will perform the UK premiere of Elephant You Shake Your Sheep, which is designed to push the bagpipes’ familiar sound to new limits.
Sonica is produced by Glasgow-based Cryptic, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
The eighth edition of its biennial festival “for curious minds and adventurous spirits” will welcome and showcase acts from Egypt, Myanmar, Ukraine, Australia and more, alongside top Scottish talent.
Sonica will also be bringing visual art back to the city centre Lighthouse venue since it closed in March 2020, and a special celebration of Scottish film composer Craig Armstrong will take place at the GFT.
Cryptic’s founding Artistic Director Cathie Boyd said: “Sonica 2024 will be the culmination of our celebration of an incredible 30 years of Cryptic, which began life in Glasgow in 1994.
“It showcases everything that Cryptic has gone on to become known for: bringing cutting-edge, internationally-renowned artists to Scottish audiences and giving an ambitious platform for Scottish artists to stand alongside them.”
Echoes of the Burrell is free but must be booked in advance. It takes place on September 22.
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