MUSIC LOVERS in Dunoon were treated to a fascinating and innovative performance last weekend as Cowal Music Club welcomed acclaimed violinist Steve Bingham to the Burgh Hall.
The Aberdeenshire- based musician delivered a highly varied programme, combining classical works with modern pieces and popular music, all enhanced through the use of live looping technology.
Explaining the process to the audience, Mr Bingham demonstrated how he builds up layers of sound in real time, creating rich musical textures
by recording and repeating sections of his own playing. The technique allowed him, at times, to step back while the music continued, adding a unique dimension to the performance.
Adding to the complexity, he performed using three different violins — a traditional instrument, a five-string electric violin, and a six-string hybrid capable of producing deeper, cello-like tones. Switching seamlessly between them, he delivered a confident and engaging performance throughout.
The programme lived up to its promise of taking listeners “from Bach to the Beatles”, with highlights including interpretations of Coldplay’s Clocks, Sir James McMillan’s The Tryst, It’s a Sin by the Pet Shop Boys and Michael Nyman’s Time Lapse.
Two contemporary pieces by Leeds composer Rowan Alfred also made a strong impression, featuring striking rhythms and imaginative soundscapes, including one inspired by recorded birdsong.
A standout moment came with Mr Bingham’s arrangement of George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps, which blended subtle percussion with expressive violin playing.
The appreciative audience responded warmly, and were rewarded with an energetic encore — a solo violin piece based on Owner of a Lonely Heart by the rock band Yes.
Cowal Music Club’s next concert will take place at 3pm on May 3 at Dunoon Burgh Hall, when Gerry Forde’s New Phoenix Band will present a programme of jazz.
