Composing Portfolio
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Sea of Stars for lever harp & pedal harp duo written in 2020 Inspired by bio-luminescent plankton that glows in the dark, this piece utilises special extended techniques (some of which were specially developed by Lauren) to create a magical sparkly effect reminiscent of those amazing sea creatures. Sea of Stars is written so that each harp has it's own unique 'voice' and sound world, the pedal harp with strident powerful chords, and the lever harp with effervescent filigree figures throughout. The two harps combine together to form a sparkly and funky up-beat piece. |
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the sun and her flowers
for multi-level harp ensemble by Lauren Scott This is one of 3 multi-level harp ensemble pieces written in January 2020 for amateur harp groups supported by PRS Foundation Women Make Music. Inspired by a short poem by Rupi Kaur, the sun and her flowers is written in four parts and uses various preparations including paper woven between the strings to make the sound of a Kalimba, paperclips & coils placed on the base of strings to make the sound of buzzing bees, and clips placed on a bass note to sound like a joyous and raucous rattle in the final part of this piece. After a calm introduction of short cadenzas the sun wakes up and the sound of the kalimba creates a groove over which the flowers dance. |
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Celestial Spirals by Lauren Scott
written in 2019 |
Beyond the Horizon by Lauren Scott
written in 2019 |
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Gypsy Dance by Lauren Scott
written in 2018 |
Blue Moon Rising by Lauren Scott
written in 2018 |
Key information
Lauren Scott has recently embarked on a creative compositional journey having only started writing music in 2018.
- Written over 20 compositions.
- Three published volumes of music for lever harp
- Four pieces set on the Trinity Grade Syllabus
- Four pieces set on the Australian Music Examinations Board.
- January 2020 was a recipient of a PRS Foundation Women Make Music award to compose new music for her project, Harps Across the North
- In March 2020 her debut solo CD, Beyond the Horizon which features eight of her compositions alongside works by Peter Maxwell Davies and John Cage was released on the Avie Records label.
- Broadcast on BBC Radio 3 Inside Music
- Album of the Week on Scala Radio (music included on Scala Radio playlist)
- Music included on two BBC Introducing playlists on BBC Sounds
- Music included on Apple Music playlist (over 750,000 streams to date)
- Composer-in-Residence with Harps North West for 2021
- Recipient of a 'Developing Your Creative Practice' award from Arts Council England 2021
Significant performances of music by Lauren Scott
- West Australia Harp Festival - October 2019
- World Harp Congress - was scheduled for August 2020, now 2022
- Harp on Wight International Festival - October 2020 (virtual festival)
- Harp on Wight International Festival - October 2021
Lauren is currently writing a new volume of music for solo harp due for release 2021 and recording new music for a second album with Avie Records due for release 2022.
Music by Lauren Scott has received critical acclaim from the press, leading harpists and harp societies worldwide
"Pre-eminently thoughtful and compelling, she draws sounds of deep soulfulness and will-o-the-wisp rustlings. Her Lever Harp sings sweetly and the recording is beautifully judged." BBC Music Magazine
"I think you're going to like this album... rather fabulous it is, too" Simon Mayo - Scala Radio Album of the Week
"Simply beautiful sounds... an entrancing new disc. The ringing strings blossom into a kaleidoscope of color." HARP COLUMN (US based magazine)
"What a stunning display of colors Scott creates!" American Record Guide
"When Scott began playing the folk harp, composing her own music came like a 'shot out of the blue', and we are the beneficiaries of a raft of delightful original works." HARP COLUMN
"Scott makes ingenious use of effects, most notably that of vibrato, to lend sonorous expressivity to the repeated motives. Her music is open, expressive and filmic and a real hit with audiences. Highly recommended." HARP magazine (UK Harp Association)
"This next book is one to put on your wish list for Santa. Adventures for Lever Harp Book 1 is a delightful new book of original solos... For those who play or teach lever harp, these entertaining and innovative pieces are a welcome addition to the repertoire, and audiences should find these tunes interesting and engaging." Harp Column Magazine
"This is a brilliant collection of original compositions for the lever harp... a wonderful addition to anyone's lever harp music collection, leading away from the cliched music and I highly recommend it." Harp Magazine
“Fun, festive, and fabulous! These are unique and exciting additions to the lever harp repertoire and are equally as rewarding to play as they are to teach!” Kirsten Agresta Copely (leading American harpist)
"The music is wonderful, really varied and fun" Elizabeth Volpé Bligh (leading Canadian harpist)
“A funky repertoire addition for intermediate to advanced lever harpists. I defy anyone not to smile while performing these pieces. They are a great way to master syncopation and percussive techniques within sophisticated, beautifully written pieces”. Keziah Thomas (leading British harpist)
"I have enjoyed these pieces for many reasons, but mostly for their very catchy tunes with lots of groove and their so very well placed extended techniques! Each piece is musically satisfying and fun to play. They are programmatic and will be very accessible to an audience of non-musicians and musicians alike." The Harp Society of New Zealand (harp association of New Zealand)
"We don't often find an intermediate to advanced book for lever harp, so I was excited to see this publication. This collection is ideal for professionals, or for the advanced student. I plan to use one or two of the selections for my annual recital." Folk Harp Journal (US based magazine)
"Pre-eminently thoughtful and compelling, she draws sounds of deep soulfulness and will-o-the-wisp rustlings. Her Lever Harp sings sweetly and the recording is beautifully judged." BBC Music Magazine
"I think you're going to like this album... rather fabulous it is, too" Simon Mayo - Scala Radio Album of the Week
"Simply beautiful sounds... an entrancing new disc. The ringing strings blossom into a kaleidoscope of color." HARP COLUMN (US based magazine)
"What a stunning display of colors Scott creates!" American Record Guide
"When Scott began playing the folk harp, composing her own music came like a 'shot out of the blue', and we are the beneficiaries of a raft of delightful original works." HARP COLUMN
"Scott makes ingenious use of effects, most notably that of vibrato, to lend sonorous expressivity to the repeated motives. Her music is open, expressive and filmic and a real hit with audiences. Highly recommended." HARP magazine (UK Harp Association)
"This next book is one to put on your wish list for Santa. Adventures for Lever Harp Book 1 is a delightful new book of original solos... For those who play or teach lever harp, these entertaining and innovative pieces are a welcome addition to the repertoire, and audiences should find these tunes interesting and engaging." Harp Column Magazine
"This is a brilliant collection of original compositions for the lever harp... a wonderful addition to anyone's lever harp music collection, leading away from the cliched music and I highly recommend it." Harp Magazine
“Fun, festive, and fabulous! These are unique and exciting additions to the lever harp repertoire and are equally as rewarding to play as they are to teach!” Kirsten Agresta Copely (leading American harpist)
"The music is wonderful, really varied and fun" Elizabeth Volpé Bligh (leading Canadian harpist)
“A funky repertoire addition for intermediate to advanced lever harpists. I defy anyone not to smile while performing these pieces. They are a great way to master syncopation and percussive techniques within sophisticated, beautifully written pieces”. Keziah Thomas (leading British harpist)
"I have enjoyed these pieces for many reasons, but mostly for their very catchy tunes with lots of groove and their so very well placed extended techniques! Each piece is musically satisfying and fun to play. They are programmatic and will be very accessible to an audience of non-musicians and musicians alike." The Harp Society of New Zealand (harp association of New Zealand)
"We don't often find an intermediate to advanced book for lever harp, so I was excited to see this publication. This collection is ideal for professionals, or for the advanced student. I plan to use one or two of the selections for my annual recital." Folk Harp Journal (US based magazine)
