Ross Whyte

A Totalitarian State, Murder and Severed Toes… Happy New Year!

Ross Whyte — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:55:11 +0000

I’m starting off the New Year in a suitably dark fashion. Having been given the job of scoring the music for a production of Martin McDonagh’s play The Pillowman, I’ve been immersing myself in the sounds of dripping taps, distant footsteps and ominous drones. It’s a wonderfully dark world to explore…

Last night, the cast and crew met for the first time and did a full reading of the play. When I first received my copy of The Pillowman I read it over three or four days so that I could slowly analyse it and consider what music might fit where. However, to read through it in one sitting is an entirely different experience – the intensity and horror (and indeed humour) is almost overwhelming. It’ll be a brave audience that sees it through to the end.

I’ve also been given the task of creating some video elements for a backdrop projection. I’ve been given some interesting hints and suggestions for what the appearance might be: “1930s Italian fashion”, “postmodern”, “surreal”, “like a child’s drawing…”

This is going to be fun!

The Pillowman will be performed at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen from 29th – 31st March. More details to follow shortly…

“A Private Space” goes live

Ross Whyte — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:56:42 +0000

Following a successful exhibition at Left Bank Gallery in Tarland, A Private Space (the web-based sound art project by Ross Whyte and Shenpen Chokyi), the official site is now available to access:

www.aprivatespace.com

Video Preview

Ross Whyte — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:47:11 +0000

Here’s a short clip of last Saturday’s installation. It’s filmed with a mobile phone – so apologies for the cheap quality…

Download now Available!

Ross Whyte — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:43:52 +0000

An mp3 version of Memorial is now available to download. The official Memorial site (along with download) can be found here: http://whytememorial.wordpress.com/

In the Press

Ross Whyte — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:01:03 +0000

Memorial has had a brief mention in an article by The Scotsman. Read all about it here:

http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/music/album-reviews/classical_opera_rich_and_strange_on_the_planet_of_sound_1_1904140

Sound Festival – coming soon…

Ross Whyte — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:16:35 +0000

Details of the A Private Space exhibition and performance have now been advertised on the Sound Festival website:

http://sound-scotland.co.uk/sound_events/ross-whyte-and-shenpen-chokyi/

Sound Checking…

Ross Whyte — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:27:45 +0000

I did my first sound-check at Aberdeen Art Gallery’s Memorial Court this morning for October’s event. I now realise how difficult it is to play recordings of spoken word in a massively reverberant hall. Mixing the final piece is going to be quite a challenge. On the plus side, the music is sounding great – very atmospheric in that big space.

It’s strange creating a work for a place that people are incredibly sensitive about – it’s almost like holy ground to many of those that visit there. Hopefully, they’ll find that what I’ve done is respectful and in-keeping with the purpose of the Memorial Court. Hopefully…

Reproductions – Videos

Ross Whyte — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:55:32 +0000

Reproductions is a work for solo male dancer (Jack Webb) with experimental music and projected film.

Inspired by Magritte’s painting, La reproduction interdite, the performance is an exploration in abstractions of memory and identity.

The debut performance can be viewed here:

The official site for Reproductions can be found here.

Memorial

Ross Whyte — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:52:23 +0000

Memorial is a site-specific audio work for headphones and multi-channel performance, using ambient recordings rom the Cowdray Hall Memorial Court and archival recordings of war testimonials.

The event will be held in association with Lunchbreak Concerts at Cowdray Hall.

Saturday 22 October

12.30-4.30pm

Free, no booking required

(H)ANNA(H)

Ross Whyte — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:39:14 +0000

Memory | Transition: (H)ANNA(H)

18-22 April

I spent last week collaborating on a project with choreographer Mhairi Allan and dancers Anna Gander and Hannah Venet (c/o Citymoves). The project focused on transition and the fragmentary nature of memory. I should have some video to post soon. In the meantime, here are some sounds and images: