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
- 25 May 2026, 12:30
[Composers' Coffee Club: online coffee chat for composers & musicians] - 27 May 2026, 13:00
[Free Online Composer Support Calls] - 28 May 2026, 17:00
[Peer to Peer session: Collaborating to increase commissioning for Scottish composers and performances of new music throughout Scotland] *NMS event - 29 May 2026, 19:00
[Ipsa Collective: McEwen Bequest Concert at University of Glasgow] - 03 Jun 2026, 13:00
[Free Online Composer Support Calls]
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Works
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- Quartet no 6 (Ma), by Matthew Whiteside
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- Aides... mémoires... Project album launch
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