Mackay's Memoirs

An experimental animated film inspired by Martyn Bennett's composition for pipes, clarsach and orchestra. The soundtrack was written by Martyn for the students of the City of Edinburgh Music School in honour of the late Dr. Kenneth A Mackay of Badenoch. A beautiful piece of work that was first performed in 1999 at the opening of the Scottish Parliament by Broughton High School. It was then recorded the morning after Martyn's death by the young people of Broughton High who never knew that Martyn had passed away, the news being kept back until after the recording. This was Martyn's final recorded work. Based around the theme and first variation of the piobaireachd 'Lament For Mary MacLeod', it explores the possibilities of pipe music as a basis for contemporary music. It was named Mackay's Memoirs after reading Dr Mackay's medical and personal journals written during his post as Free Church of Scotland missionary general practitioner in Moyobamba, Peru. The piece opens with Psalm 121 and features the pipes of both countries, along with voices, clarsach and the classical orchestra. The film is a visual interpretation of Martyn's wonderful musical composition, inspired and influenced by the structure and melody of the soundtrack. I wanted to respond to the way the music had been composed, orchestrated and performed, and the way that the music evokes an emotion and vision of the island people, rich and varied wildlife and diverse landscapes. It is a film that celebrates the links between the traditional music and landscape that inspires it's composition, It aims to bring the people, land and music closer to those who feel so much part of it, and whom understand clearly what it is that makes the Island of Mull the glory that was, and is. Mull was a very special place close to Martyn's heart, and I hope the film succeeds in bringing to everyone who knew him and his music, of which there are many, wonderful happy memories of him as a man, musician, composer, and the resulting brilliant legacy of his work.