Claire M. Singer presents the first release in a triptych of albums. Saor (pronounced Sieur: meaning "free" in Scottish Gaelic) perfectly encapsulates Claire's experimental approach to the pipe organ, exploring rich harmonic textures and complex overtones which create ever-shifting melodic and rhythmic patterns, conjuring visions of the Scottish dramatic landscapes which inspire her. Much of the album was written or recorded in Claire's home county, at Forgue Kirk in Aberdeenshire. A church she hadn't discovered before, in a remote spot, up a slight hill near a small cluster of houses. A friend recommended the organ to her and she later found out from her mother that many of her ancestors were buried there. Across the album, tracks flutter, pulse and build into and imposing mass. Some suggest texture and weather, using electronic processing and distortion. Others rely on the organ itself for heady atmospheres, while Saor's title track goes even further; recorded at Orgelpark, Amsterdam, an international concert hall for organists, it uses five instruments in layers that span four centuries. Claire also plays cello, mellotron and harmonium on the album, and there are contributions from strings (Patsy Reid), trumpet (Brian Shook), clarinets (Yann Ghiro), and French horn (Andy Saunders). Saor is an adventure bringing the same sense of elation as the journeys Claire made on foot to the summit. Saor is generously supported by Arts Council England, PRS Foundation's Composers' Fund in partnership with Jerwood Arts, the Friends of Forgue Kirk, the Richard Thomas Foundation and Orgelpark, Amsterdam.
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