Concerto for Orchestra (Old Kirk Concerto No.2)
John wrote this piece in late 2019 and intended for performance by Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society
in March 2020. Unfortunately this concert had to be cancelled because of the pandemic,
but it was eventually presented in its entirety on Sunday 20 March at Kirkcaldy Old Kirk.
Loosely inspired by the concertos of Bartòk and Lutoslawski the concerto features the instrumental
'families' of instruments in the orchestra. The piece was part of a season connecting with
families in various contexts and draws on the melody of 'A Man's A Man'. The original
intention had been to be a listening activity as part of the composition project with
S3 pupils at St Columba's HS, Dunfermline.
Private Dunsire VC
In early 1916 a song, ‘Private Dunsire VC', was written and composed about Dunsire, words by Felix Slevin and music by Gordon Mackenzie. “….He was only a humble miner, But he heard his country's call”.
The music has now been orchestrated by Dunfermline composer and KOS musician John Gourlay.
