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 |
NMS opportunities
Upcoming events
- 14 Jun 2026, 14:00
[On A Wing and A Prayer - Reflections on Morvern's Changing Habitat] - 16 Jun 2026, 20:00
[Concerts for a Summer’s Night 2026] - 17 Jun 2026, 13:00
[Free Online Composer Support Calls] - 17 Jun 2026, 20:00
[Concerts for a Summer’s Night 2026] - 18 Jun 2026, 20:00
[Concerts for a Summer’s Night 2026]
Recent updates
Works
- Sòlás Collective - Improvised, by Tom Macfadyen
- Quartet no 6 (Ma), by Matthew Whiteside
- Perihelion, by Neil Tòmas Smith
Events
- BBC SSO: Enrico Chapela's 'Antiphaser' (Concerto for electric violin and orchestera)
- BBC SSO: Takemitsu & Fujikura
- BBC SSO: Erland Cooper's Dawn Chorus
Projects
- Pete Stollery conducts Joe Stollery premiere
- Aides... mémoires... Project album launch
- On a Wing and a Prayer
Opportunities
- Call for delegates to UNM Denmark festival 2026
- New Music Scotland CPD Fund
- Development Opportunities for Scottish composers / composers based in Scotland
