How Music can be a powerful voice for our Planet!

Cello solo draws attention to climate change

I am so thrilled to receive funding thanks to the #NationalLottery and Arts Council England that will support me for a period of residency in the North West Highlands Geopark in Scotland.There's something about the raw beauty of the wilderness that pushes you beyond your comfort zone—both creatively and physically. Being immersed in nature not only inspires new melodies but also challenges your limits, forcing you to dig deeper into yourself.

The Geopark

The north-west Highlands of Scotland have a unique scenery, an incredible UNESCO site with some of the oldest rocks in Europe. Rolling knolls of rock stand out on low-lying, boggy land, which is interspersed with isolated, forbidding mountains like Suilven, Ben Stack and Quinag. Lochans, waterfalls, tiny crofting communities and the occasional castle dot the landscape. The whole area was gouged by glaciers during the last ice age, leaving this starkly beautiful landscape behind.

https://nwhgeopark.com

The Sycamore Gap Tree

This journey feels even more meaningful after my emotional experience playing 'Lament for the Tree' at the Sycamore Gap Tree, a moment that deepened my connection to both music and nature. I can’t wait to explore and let the landscape inspire new music.

The full story : https://www.riccardopesmusic.com/sycamoregaptree

The residency

From the 27th of September to the 20th of October 2024, I will be diving deep into the beautiful intersections of folk traditions, climate action, and the natural world. My project, '𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄 & 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 - cello draws attention to climate change' aims to harmonize the sounds of the surrounding environment with the urgent call for climate awareness.

How it all started

My first encounter with the traditional melody 'Waters of Kylesku' ignited my lifelong love for Scottish music and ultimately led me to compose “2 maybe a 100 down in Kylesku” for an ensemble of 100 cellos. That experience planted the seed of a dream to one day visit the North west of Scotland, and now it’s finally happening!

Supported by

This was only made possible thanks to the support of the Arts Council England, Agostino Bran, Nicla Bravin, Silvana Vassili, Massimo De Mattia, Luigina Perosa, Izabela Puszczykowska, Brenda Neece Scott and the Cello Museum.