Scottish Arts Council - Archive - Visual Arts

The Scottish Arts Council is supporting the Three Blows event as it responds to innovative interdisciplinary activity in Scotland and offers the artists an inspiring space and an unprecedented programme in which to perform.

‘Since first seeing St Cecilia’s Hall in 2001, I longed to hold an event in this extraordinary space but was looking for the right idea to fit to this very specific venue. At the same time, I was aware of this very strong connection between visual artists and music; not artists using music as part of their practice but artists who were playing in bands and gaining recognition as well as a level of commercial success. I approached Sarah Lowndes to curate a programme that would sit well with St Cecilia’s Hall and through her involvement Lowndes developed a strong concept that became Three Blows. Based on that concept, approaches were made to specific artists to participate and to respond to this unique environment through a purely acoustic performance. We are delighted with the line-up and wish to thank those artists/musicians for participating.’

‘Part of the myth of St Cecilia is that she invented the organ as no existing instrument could express her religious devotion. This story arose from a mistranslation of her desire to cantantibus organis illa in corde suo soi domino decantabat (sing in her heart to God only). The interrelationship of organ and heart is significant for Three Blows, as many of the invited participants are already friends and collaborators.

For example, Shane Connolly of Tattie Toes also works on the music project The Book of Beasts with Sarah Kenchington and plays with Rude Pravo’s Stevie Jones in an experimental trio with Jer Reid.

An early intention of the Three Blows project was to highlight the fertile music/art crossover which is a cornerstone of the innovative Scottish music scene.

We have also been fortunate enough to gain the participation of two seminal figures from the wider experimental music scene: longtime The Red Krayola member Mayo Thompson will headline the ‘For the Voice’ strand which explores song structure, and ‘prepared guitar’ pioneer Keith Rowe will headline the series of textured sound compositions that comprise the ‘Imaginary Landscape’ strand.
In addition to the creative and collaborative possibilities that may arise from the Three Blows programme, the event also offers a special opportunity to the participants as it is completely acoustic. This decision was made because of the very special sound properties of St Cecilia’s Hall, where reverberations gather around the curved walls and domed ceiling to yield a rich sound even without amplification.

For many of the artists/musicians involved the Three Blows event is an opportunity to do something different – the project is therefore not only showcasing existing activity, but also providing a challenging context for new compositions.’

Project Information
This is the inaugural year of Three Blows, a weekend of all-sound acoustic performance by contemporary visual artists and musicians, set in the unique space of St Cecilia’s Hall in Edinburgh.

The event will showcase a wide range of innovative acoustic compositions, including unaccompanied singing, non-amplified improvisation and interactive mechanical music contraptions.

The title Three Blows derives from the pious romance of St Cecilia, the patron saint of church music. It is said that her appointed executioner let his sword fall three times without succeeding in severing her head from her neck.

Correspondingly, the event Three Blows has three separate strands: each has been programmed in response to the specific qualities of the space.

The auditorium at St Cecilia's Hall (which dates from 1763) is the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland, and the second oldest in Britain, and has special acoustic properties, owing to the oval shape of the room and the elliptical domed ceiling.

The programme consists only of acoustic music, divided into two themed evenings entitled 'For the Voice' and 'Imaginary Landscape' and a third strand, 'Thinking Music', which encompasses afternoon tours St Cecilia’s Hall Museum of Instruments on 5 July and a discussion event on 6 July. Three Blows aims to highlight the innovative practice of Scotland-based artists/musicians Tattie Toes, Correcto, Richard Youngs, Sarah Kenchington, Tony Swain and Rude Pravo. In addition, we are delighted to welcome two seminal figures from the experimental music scene as headline acts on each night: Red Krayola front man, Mayo Thompson (Saturday 5 July) and ‘prepared guitar’ pioneer, Keith Rowe (Sunday 6 July).

We believe that the combination of this very special venue and the imaginative performances of these artists will engender an unprecedented event.

Three Blows is delighted to have additional support from the University of Edinburgh, Tanqueray, Fentimans and the Modern Institute.

Ticket information
Full Price 1x day £16.00
Concession Price 1x day £14.00
Full weekend pass £29.50
Concession weekend pass £25.50

Tickets available from Hub Tickets
Telephone 0131 473 2000 or visit the Hub website.
Mon – Sat 10am – 5 pm
The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE

Tickets on the door subject to availability

Free Events
Thinking Music, Part I - Saturday 5 July
Guided Tours of St Cecilia’s Hall Museum of Instruments
2.30pm: The Continental Tour
4pm: The English and Scottish Tour

Thinking Music, Part II - Sunday 6 July
2pm: Discussion with Mayo Thompson and Keith Rowe, chaired by Sarah Lowndes

Tickets, available from the Hub, will be required for these free events due to limited numbers

Three Blows at St Cecilia's Hall: 5-6 July 2008