RSNO premieres Sounds of The Deep – A Musical Adventure Posted Thu 6 February 2025
Over the last 2 weeks, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) welcomed nearly 8,000 pupils from across Scotland to live performances of Sounds of the Deep: A Musical Adventure in Inverness, Paisley, Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Sounds of the Deep is the newest edition of the Orchestra’s long-running National Schools Concert Programme, which has engaged over 160,000 school children across every local authority in Scotland, including over 35,000 pupils from schools in areas of multiple deprivation.
Specially created for children in primaries 4-7, performances transported audiences using lighting, video and musical elements to create an immersive experience of the deep-sea world. A narrative built around the Good Ship Harmony guided the children through the instrument families of the orchestra, the role of the conductor (as the ship’s Captain) and a range of nautical repertoire including Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Ethel Smyth’s Overture to The Boatswain’s Mate and Night Ferry by Anna Clyne.
The production also incorporated a unique 2D animated short film of a basking shark. Entitled Ballet of the Blue, the short film is set to an excerpt from Gershwin’s popular Rhapsody in Blue which was performed live in the concerts by pianist Lynda Cochrane and the musicians of the RSNO. Ballet of the Blue goes below the wings of gannets and guillemots to explore the territory of the friendly giant, the basking shark, meeting colourful kelp, fish, lobsters and other creatures along its path. Created by Edinburgh production studio Eyebolls, the animation added bespoke Scottish artistic input to the project.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “I am delighted to see the launch of this latest instalment in the RSNO’s excellent National Schools Concert Programme. Ensuring every young person has the opportunity to access and enjoy culture is a priority for the Scottish Government. I know thousands of children across Scotland have already enjoyed performances of Sounds of the Deep and I would encourage all primary schools to use the excellent free resources that will be available as part of the project, to bring the magic of our national orchestra to the classroom.”
Andy Stevenson, RSNO Director of Engagement said: “The RSNO’s schools work is some of our most innovative and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve for Scotland’s school children. During the development of Sounds of the Deep, we’ve been lucky to benefit from the expert opinions of our Schools Advisory Group, ensuring that the resources are exactly what schools will benefit from most. Following the success of the live performances, I’m looking forward to bringing the project into classrooms next with our digital materials; reaching further into communities as Scotland’s National Orchestra.”
Free Sounds of the Deep digital learning resources including a concert film, resources in partnership with Edinburgh Zoo and the Marine Conservation Society, and content with BSL and Gaelic provision will be released in the spring. For more information on how to access visit: www.rsno.org.uk/sounds-of-the-deep
Sounds of the Deep is supported by Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Endowments Trust, Alexander Moncur Charitable Trust, Balgay Children’s Society, Castansa Trust, Cookie Matheson Charitable Trust, David and June Gordon Memorial Trust, Educational Institute of Scotland, Forteviot Charitable Trust, Gaelic Language Promotion Trust, The Gannochy Trust, Glasgow City Council, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Jimmie Cairncross Charitable Trust, Leach Family Trust, Leisure and Culture Dundee, Leng Charitable Trust, The McGlashan Charitable Trust, MEB Charitable Trust, Nancie Massey Charitable Trust, Northwood Charitable Trust, PF Charitable Trust, Q Charitable Trust, Scott Davidson Charitable Trust, ScotRail, Stevenston Charitable Trust, Tay Charitable Trust, Tillyloss Trust, Walter Craig Charitable Trust, Walter Scott Giving Group, William S Phillips Fund.
