'A love letter to Falkirk' – Euan Stevenson on his Sound Tracks project

Receiving its premiere later this month, Euan Stevenson’s suite of nine pieces for piano, flute and cello was written during lockdown and inspired by the history and culture of his home town. Interview by Jim Gilchrist

Euan Stevenson PIC: Aldo Ferrarello

Pianist and composer Euan Stevenson’s Sound Tracks navigate more than just musical pathways. He describes the suite of nine pieces for piano, flute and cello as a celebration of his native Falkirk’s rich history and culture but also as “a nostalgic love letter to my home town”.

Composed during lockdown, the suite’s premiere, originally scheduled for last year, was cancelled by the pandemic. Now, however, it will receive its first performance by the Earthtones Trio – Stevenson’s longstanding collaboration with flautist Katherine Bryan and cellist Betsy Taylor – at Falkirk Trinity Church on 24 April.

A co-commission from Chamber Music Scotland and Classic Music Live! Scotland, Sound Tracks is a musical exploration of Falkirk’s award-winning path network, some of which are the remains of ancient drove roads, and evoking both historical events such as Celtic tribes attacking the Roman Antonine Wall or the Jacobite victory at Falkirk Muir, and modern landmarks like the Falkirk Wheel. On a personal level, however, it is what he describes as “a visceral response to memories of my childhood, kindling memories of growing up amongst family, the community, the church, the tennis club … all the people who have a formative influence on your life.”

The Earthtones Trio, from left to right: Katherine Bryan, Euan Stevenson and Betsy Taylor PIC: Louise Mather

Falkirk was also where Stevenson’s music-making started: “my first live gig was playing for the local Sunday school to accompany the junior choir.”

Innumerable gigs later, the 41-year-old pianist’s output straddles jazz, classical and beyond, notably in his acclaimed New Focus collaboration with saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski, while the Earthtones Trio sees him joined by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s principal flautist Bryan and its associate principal cellist Taylor. His compositions have been played by a correspondingly diverse range of performers, from the RSNO and the Bach Choir to the BBC Big Band, while the debut album Only the Lover Sings, which he co-wrote and arranged with Glasgow singer Georgia Cécile, scooped best album category at last year’s Scottish Jazz Awards.

Currently living in Surrey but clearly still a Falkirk bairn at heart, he is relieved to be finally getting Sound Tracks performed. Much of the suite was recorded during lockdown, and a single from it, Wheel Slowly Turning, is due for release on the Glasgow label iOcco Classical. Inspired by the Falkirk Wheel, the hydraulic marvel linking the Forth and Clyde and Union canals, the music’s leisurely circling reflects the boat lift’s ingenious workings: “The symmetry and elegantly balanced mechanism inspired the construction of my piece,” he explains. “Each time a melodic phrase is presented, there’s either a direct imitation or an answering counter-phrase to offset the weight of the preceding phrase. It’s like the Archimedes principle in sonic form.”

There are playful aspects as well: another piece, Running for Miles, reflects time spent with his children during lockdown and the energy of his then six-year-old son. Sound Tracks are frequently cinematic sounding – he has described them as “imagined pieces of film music” – and one of them, La Scozia, celebrating Falkirk’s Italian community, was indeed inspired by Nino Rota’s score for The Godfather.

At the premiere, Stevenson will intersperse these new compositions with some of his arrangements of pieces by Satie, Ellington, Gershwin and others. He is currently in discussion with festivals and music societies across the Central Belt about possible future performances of Sound Tracks.

In the meantime, a few days before that premiere, Perth Concert Hall will host a major charity event. A Concert for Ukraine, on 20 April, will feature an all-star line-up of Scottish folk names, including singers Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson and Sheena Wellington, while instrumentalists will include Duncan Chisholm, Patsy Reid, Bruce MacGregor, Phil Cunningham, Tim Edey and Ross Ainslie. They’ll be joined by poets including the current Makar, Kathleen Jamie, and Gerda Stevenson.

Horsecross Arts has waived the fee for the use of the concert hall and all net proceeds will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

For further information, see www.euanstevenson.com and www.horsecross.co.uk

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