This is a short composition of mine called Taxus Baccata for double bass and carnyx - carnyx played here by my friend John Kenny who was the first to re-awaken the primordial voice of the carnyx after 2000 years of silence. In this piece I hoped to convey some of the more subtle qualities of the carnyx as it may have been played beneath the yew tree during Ritual. The opening theme of Taxus Baccata grows out of a short improvisation on the double bass before establishing a simple and haunting melody. The bass represents the 'voice' of the yew tree. Before long the carnyx enters, mirroring, reversing and enhancing the sliding tones and two note chordal figures of the yew/bass melody. The yew/bass then establishes a repetitive and hypnotic central theme as John sets aside the carnyx temporarily for the trombone. At the conclusion of the trombone solo, the yew/bass deconstructs part of the opening theme, inviting and even challenging the carnyx to return in a roaring and ferocious improvisation that eventually resolves back to the original theme. The Ritual is almost over as the two forces, having challenged one another, return to a state of grace and harmony.
Taxus Baccata was composed by ear as part of a project called Scot Free that was designed by John kenny to bring the carnyx together with a jazz ensemble and jazz composers, contemporary classical composers, the amazing electronic sound world of John Whiting and visual artists. Scot Free was premiered at the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh in 1998. I had initially intended that Taxus be played by the entire Scot Free quintet, but during rehearsals at the French Institute in Edinburgh it became clear for a number of reasons that this would not be possible. (Largely because of my limited literacy in musical notation!) Finally, when only John and I were left in the rehearsal room I began playing. John simply picked up the carnyx, held it aloft and played exactly the right thing. I couldn't believe it! It was as if the spirit of the carnyx played itself right through him! This particular performance of Taxus was recorded in 1999 by the composer and improviser Etienne Rollin during a live concert at the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
One day I hope to be able to record a new version of Taxus Baccata with John and the Carnyx.
John Kenny with carnyx, trombones, sea shell and horns.
www.carnyxscotland.co.uk
John Kenny writing about our work together with the amazing carnyx, (pictured above), in an excerpt from his blog 2008
"One of the deepest reactions came from my old friend Mike Dunning.
Mike is a wonderful bass player, and one of the most original jazz musicians Scotland has produced in the past thirty years. He also used his art to work extensively with people suffering from a wide variety of physical and emotional disablement, and eventually also trained as a craniosacral therapist – a true polymath. He now lives and works in the USA.
Mike was a member of the free jazz group Scot Free that I put together in Edinburgh a few years ago, and for our inaugural gig he wrote a piece called “Taxus Baccata” for carnyx & bass, which sprang from his deep meditations on and within the ancient Yew. Mike’s piece is truly spiritual, and captures perfectly that deep feeling of connectivity that I try to reach in my own solo piece. Go to Mike’s own site to see pictures of that extraordinary tree, and to read about his own experiences."
John Kenny
www.carnyxscotland.co.uk Michael's Musical Experience Michael is a self-taught double bassist and has performed with many of Scotland's best-known jazz musicians, as well as with dancers and dance companies, composers, theatre companies, the carnyx, an opera singer, folk musicians and bagpipers. Since emigrating to US he has worked with many jazz musicians in Boston and in western MA. Michael is currently taking a break from double bass to learn violin. This decision was inspired by the life of his great-grandfather who played violin and performed throughout Europe as both musician and contortionist!
Early Projects
John Kenny, the world renowned trombonist and composer, invited Michael to perform as part of a multi-media project and concert in Edinburgh celebrating the reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx - the Celtic war horn depicted on the Gundestrup Cauldron www.carnyxscotland.co.uk Michael composed a short piece entitled Taxus Baccata - a musical interpretation of a possible meeting between the yew tree and the carnyx. (see above)
Musical Awards
The Scottish Arts Council awarded two separate musical study grants to Michael that allowed him to study with the legendary jazz bassist Gary Peacock .
Recordings Freewheelers with saxophonist and jazz educator, Rob Hall.
www.robhall.co.uk Broken Poems with the Scottish jazz pianist and composer Chick Lyall in a quartet featuring Tom Bancroft on drums with the widely respected Swedish tenor player Joakim Milder, best known for his work as sideman with ECM Records veteran, Tomasz Stanko. The album by Chick Lyall, is available through Caber Music. The album is featured in The Penguin Guide to Jazz.
www.cabermusic.com lyrical, engaging jazz that stands up to anything ECM have put out of late
BBC review, Peter Marsh