Mill memories hit all the right notes
Stories are used to create new piece of music
Memories of Paisley’s historic mills have formed the basis of a new piece of music.
Charity Live Music Now Scotland was given money from the Paisley 2021 fund for its Composing with Care project.
Four Paisley musicians — Lizy Stirrat, Grant McFarlane, Yvonne Robertson and Ross Wilson — performed in care homes across Renfrewshire and spoke to residents about their memories of the mills.
Those stories have formed the basis of a new piece of music for flute and guitar by composer Savourna Stevenson, entitled Mill Memories.
Later this month, flautist Yvonne and classical guitarist Ross will perform the new piece of music in a series of concerts in the care homes and day centres which inspired it.
Savourna said: “Mill Memories is a celebration of the mills of Paisley through the memories of the mill workers. The mills were central to Paisley’s status as a city of international industrial acclaim through the famous Coats cottons and silks and the exquisitely patterned Paisley shawls, but central also to the community and social life of its workers. Mill Memories opens with a ‘con moto’, emulating the sounds of machinery, spinning, shuttles flying and raised voices. Spanish and Eastern influences represent Paisley’s exotic international trade.
“The 70 children who died in the Glenn Cinema disaster of 1929 are commemorated in the penultimate section, with echoes of the mill themes in the finale suggesting hope and regeneration of Paisley’s cultural past.”
The musicians visited local care homes to put together the memories for the final piece of music.
Paisley 2021 bid director Jean Cameron said: “We are thrilled to have helped support this great project through Renfrewshire’s Culture, Heritage and Events Fund.
“Our bid for UK City of Culture 2021 aims to reconnect the people of Paisley to their unique and internationally significant heritage.
“Live Music Now Scotland is bringing that to life in a really innovative way, while showcasing some of the superb homegrown musical talent we have here.
“The bid aims to reach every corner of Renfrewshire and give groups which may not always get to enjoy the benefits of cultural activity an opportunity to do so.
“This project is a great example of how that can be done — and should we win the title our 2021 year would feature lots more projects along these lines.”
Mill Memories is a celebration of the mills through the memories of mill workers