The Rinns of Islay
Helen Mackinnon
Description
Instrumentation Genre Ensemble (with conductor)
Tag orchestra
Duration 20 minutes
Instrumentation Flute (+ piccolo) [1 player]; Flute [1 player]; Oboe (+ cor anglais) [1 player]; Oboe [1 player]; Clarinet [1 player]; Clarinet (+ bass clarinet) [1 player]; Bassoon [1 player]; Horn [4 players]; Trumpet [3 players]; Trombone [1 player]
The Rinns of Islay for symphony orchestra is a musical journey around the coastal shores of the Inner Hebridean island of Islay, home to my grandparents and generations before. Known for its rich terrain, complex climate, and peaty whisky, Islay’s stunning natural environment served as the creative inspiration for the work. Five short thematic movements adopt distinct characters as they take us on a tour of the island by day and night. The work centres around The Rinns – a beautiful peninsula overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
The work was recorded by the RSNO in 2021 and released on Legends and Light Vol. 2 in early 2022, and was awarded a Silver Medal in the Global Music Awards in 2022.
Link to find out more
Instrumentation Genre Ensemble (with conductor)
Tag orchestra
Duration 20 minutes
Instrumentation Flute (+ piccolo) [1 player]; Flute [1 player]; Oboe (+ cor anglais) [1 player]; Oboe [1 player]; Clarinet [1 player]; Clarinet (+ bass clarinet) [1 player]; Bassoon [1 player]; Horn [4 players]; Trumpet [3 players]; Trombone [1 player]
Performances of this work
| Date | Venue | Performer | Link |
| 08/05/2022 (*premiére) | Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Scotland, UK | None |
Upcoming events
- 05 Aug 2026, 17:00
[Peer to Peer Session 2: Marketing and how to work with the press and media to promote new music] - 28 Aug 2026, 11:00
[New Music Scotland 2026 Gathering and Celebration] *NMS event - 24 Sep 2026, 19:30
[BBC SSO: Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony] - 08 Oct 2026, 19:30
[BBC SSO: Willem Jeth's 'Mors Aeterna'] - 09 Oct 2026, 19:00
[BBC SSO: Willem Jeth's 'Mors Aeterna']
Recent updates
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Events
- Peer to Peer Session 2: Marketing and how to work with the press and media to promote new music
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Opportunities
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