concert music & theatre music
"I thought you sounded real good - everything seems to work in your favour. The instrumentation is special and the arrangements are way ahead of what most people are doing. You have one big fan!"
- John Renbourn
"...like a rainstorm in the Highlands with a Django Reinhardt feel to it"
- Chart Lines
"...Elspeth Smellie, whose clarsach playing and bitter-sweet voice brings a shaft of pure magic to the performance..."
- The Scotsman
Of the Alan Massie play: 'The Minstrel and the Shirra'
Elspeth composed and performed the music
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concert music
I've been performing my harp music for many years throughout Scotland and abroad, both in solo concerts and with other musicians. I mostly play my own contemporary compositions for harp and harp/voice. Some pieces have a hint of jazz/blues, while others have a traditional feel. I also compose my own arrangements of traditional songs and tunes.
Over the years, my harp music has been influenced by the history, ballads, landscape and people of the Scottish Borders. In general my music is fairly eclectic - my taste in music ranges from traditional through jazz, blues and classical. I love nearly all kinds of music, particularly very rhythmical pieces, which the Scottish harp lends itself well to. I'm a versatile performer, and adapt my concert music to suit the venue and situation.
I've entertained at small private concerts, in big concert halls, and in many theatre productions, as composer and performer. You name it, I've performed there! Contact me for full details.
theatre music
I've been involved in writing music and performing in small theatre productions since 1984. Some of these have been performed on the Edinburgh Fringe and at the Edinburgh International Festival. Usually, I've performed clarsach and harp music, but have also been known to turn my hand to percussion and acting! For certain shows, I have also directed and stage-managed, as well as writing and performing the music.
Many of these shows have explored Borders-based themes and stories, and my theatre music has covered a wide range of styles, from traditional to modern.
At present, I'm mainly playing solo concerts. Apart from that, I'm also collaborating with a cellist/whistle/guitar player. Together, we're writing lots of new songs and instrumental material. Our work includes new tunes in the traditional idiom, song cover versions, settings of contemporary poetry and brand new songs. Our trademark sound is rhythmical, bluesy and bright!
If anyone would like me to perform solo or would like music composed for a theatre production: Contact me for full details.
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