Missed Tales III - The Lost

The Lost sits as the third in a series of orchestral concertos entitled Missed Tales. The three works explore mysteries of nature and place within Northern European mythology. The Lost refers to an ancient Celtic ritual conducted by the Scots and Picts in the undulating Irish and Scottish landscapes. A bonfire would be lit on the highest hill. It would then be used by farmers to light torches that would act as diviners for mapping out territory. The torches would be placed in such a way as to enfold the most fertile land, which they called ‘The Lost’, a term that invokes the Celtic word for fire, Losaid. The title sets up the expectation that something is missing. Yet in the context of the ancient Celtic ritual, The Lost infers the discovery of something that is precious, something connected to a source of life itself. The dichotomy of these two meanings acts like a counterpoint or tension which gives rise to a metaphysical shift. Integral to the preparation of the music has been to work closely with the soloists Christopher Moore and Timo–Veikko Valve, and with double bassist Jill Griffiths and engineer Alistair McLean in the creation of the electro–acoustic soundscape.