Virasco - Virginia's History

Virginia Scott
I was born in Glasgow in 1948. My first powerful musical experience was in 1956, when I improvised on a piano alone in a room. I was overwhelmed by the sound, and the room seemed to fill with light.

In 1961 I wrote my first piano piece. In 1964 I won a scholarship to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. By 1968 I had obtained two diplomas in piano forte performance and teaching. I then won a scholarship to study Italian piano music at St. Cecilia in Rome.


I then joined Beggars Opera, a progressive rock band, playing mellotron and writing original pieces with Ricky Gardiner, who had been the guitarist with The Vostoks, a school band, where we first met, and for whom I sang. I wrote a Rock Opera, called The Immortal Show, and recorded it with Tony Visconti as well as writing and recording more songs for Beggars Opera.

I studied astrology and joined Ricky Gardiner on the Iggy Pop tour, with David Bowie in 1977 as the tour astrologer. I wrote a poem (Iggy Surreal) of my experiences as a 'Passenger'. Introspection and motherhood followed.


In 1986 I won a prize for a childrens' piece for piano solo called 'The Fading Sun'. It was published by Boosey and Hawkes. I started improvising and composing after rediscovering John Cage.

In 1989 I worked with Lucy Lucy on piano duet improvisations and we produced 'Welcome Rain after Drought'. An awesome piece. It was choreographed at Merton Festival for women in 1989. A video of my paintings and improvisations was shown in the library. I worked on 'Travelling Thru Doors' a piece for prepared piano and electronics with Ricky Gardiner.

1993 - Performance of 'Terma' for two pianos by Rainer Burck and Robert Ruhle at the Huddersfield Festival of Contemporary Music.

1994 - 'Celtic Dreams' for oboe, cor-anglais and bassoon, performed at BMIC London by Three Reeds who commissioned the piece.

Release of Kumara 'Confluence' a CD of experimental ambient music with Ricky Gardiner and Trevor Stainsby.

1995 - 'Sky dancer' for flute and guitar. Performed at the Norwegian Church Cardiff (with funds from the Welsh Arts Council). by Lynne Plowman and Sally Hillier, who commissioned the piece. 1995 - 'Celtic Dreams' performed at Aberystwyth University by 3 Reeds. 1996 - I improvised and recorded ten hours of piano music (prepared - extended) for use in an installation. Work on 'Terma Cycle' for multiple pianos. Improvisations for '2 pianos' live with Rainer Burke (Infinite Spaces). 1998 - Performance of 'Eyes Completely Open' - Bowie Transcription No 3 for solo oboe, by Catherine Pluygers, who commissioned the piece, at Bretton Hall Yorkshire.

August 2000 - Live recording of first full performance of 'Eyes Completely Open' - Bowie Transcription No 3 for solo oboe by Jennifer Porcas at the Old Meeting Hall Shaftesbury - Sample Composition of Invisible OceanImprovisation on Aria ( Goldberg Variations) by J.S.Bach for solo piano.



2001 - How The Song Grows for solo d'amore. For Jennifer Porcas. Part One - How The Song Grows. Part Two - I Am A Tear Of The Sun. Part Three - Dunnotar. 2001: How the Song Grows for solo Oboe d'amore, for Jennifer Porcas oboist. This is the longest piece ever written for Oboe d'amore. 2003: First performance of How the Song Grows at Ucheldre Arts Centre, Holyhead by oboist Jennifer Porcas. 2004: Performance and recording of How the Song Grows by Jennifer Porcas at Bangor Cathedral. 2005: Performance of How the Song Grows at Cumnor House, Sherborne, Dorset in February and Shaftesbury Underhill Music Festival in June. Recording of How the Song Grows at St John's Church Maestilo. CD and score ( pdf) availale from the composer

Samples Contact: virginiaaurora.scott@virgin.net



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