NEW Cumnock composer Jay Capperauld’s latest work will be premiered by one of the country’s leading ensembles next month.

His new piece is called Fèin-Aithne, a Scots Gaelic phrase that translates as “self-knowledge”, and is partly inspired by his childhood in the village.

It will be performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as part of their Scottish Inspirations concert on Saturday, December 10, at Glasgow’s City Halls.

Jay, a graduate composer from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, was commissioned by Sir James MacMillan to write a piece for last year’s Cumnock Tryst.

Since then, he has enjoyed a busy year, which has involved working with Sir James for a second time, with and the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, which was broadcast on national radio.

He also took part in the inaugural Composers’ Hub with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), where he developed various works with the musicians and smaller ensembles.

Explaining the new work, he said: “The piece is my attempt to explore Scottish culture from a deeply personal perspective that looks to not only define what I perceive to be Scottish culture within itself but, as a multi-culturalist, what defines Scottish culture in relation to others around the world.

“The music for this piece includes various self-composed Scottish-style folk melodies that include piobaireachds, airs and jigs, which have all been adapted into my own musical language as a composer.

“The piece also includes a musical quote from Robert Burns’ Flow Gently Sweet Afton, which represents my first interactions with Scottish culture as a child in primary school, where we would sing Burns’ famous song as part of our music lessons.”

As well as Fèin-Aithnem, another new orchestral work, Terrarium, will be performed by the RSNO to schoolchildren during a series of concerts later this month.

This will introduce young people to classical music as well as getting them to interact with the orchestra, during the performances over three days later this month.

Jay added: “Terrarium gets them involved by asking them to choose, through a multiple-choice system, how the piece will sound and develop based on the musical material that I composed in advance of the performance, meaning that each time the piece is played it will never sound the same way twice.

“I am also genuinely thrilled to be involved in the Scottish Inspirations concert on December 10 and feel a real sense of honour at being given the opportunity to compose for such a phenomenal orchestra. For me, working with orchestras such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is when making music becomes an utter privilege and a joyous experience.”