Scottish Ensemble have announced the release of the second of two specially commissioned films produced with Glasgow production company Forest of Black.
Shostakovich’s urgent and powerful Chamber Symphony is brought to life in this gripping film, as Scottish Ensemble’s musicians perform with intense concentration in fiendish solos, impassioned dialogues and thrilling ensemble playing.
Directed by Oscar Sansom, atmospheric shafts of light creep into frame illuminating, in stunning detail, the fervent physicality of the musicians as they present this demonic dance of death.
Available exclusively via Scottish Ensemble’s digital channels, the film will premiere on the ensemble’s YouTube channel at 11am on Thursday 8 February and then will be available to watch on-demand.
Oscar Sansom commented on his inspiration for the video:
Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony has so much tension in it that my initial instinct was to create a dramatic narrative scene, acting out a visualisation of the sonic drama. The more I thought about it though, I began to wonder if we could evoke the same sense of visual drama and tension from a musician’s performance. I was definitely thinking of horror films like Susperia, Possession and The Shining in the early stages. I was thinking of how they build visual tension and I was interested in what it would feel like to capture a musical performance using the approach of an action sequence like a chase or fight scene. I liked the idea of musicians brandishing their instruments like weapons.
This excerpt from Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony joins Scottish Ensemble’s growing catalogue of visually striking music videos, from Anna Meredith’s Tull the first film in partnership with Forest of Black released in November 2023 and directed by AINS, to Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 3.