We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Salmon​’​s Tail - Music

by Kevin Murray

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

    Once downloaded, import into your iTunes and in 'Playback' preferences leave unchecked any crossfade, sound enhancer, soundcheck etc. The tracks will flow seamlessly together.

    You can have a go at Narrating the story yourself, or just let Phil's emotional and virtuosic interpretation of the score and story warm your soul.
    For more info on the back story, the musicians and links to a things Salmon, River Tay, location recordings etc, go to thetunesmith.com
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
Our story begins, one hour before sunrise, on the banks of the River at a point midway between Deucharty Hill and the Hermitage. It had rained heavily for 3 days and the full moon had been shrouded by the thick clouds that filled the glen from Birnam to Pitlochry. From the hills, the perpetual rumbling of heavy lorries on the A9 hung in the air, long after they had passed. It was dark, wet, cold and plain miserable, and as far as most of us are concerned, a poor herald for the weather prospects in June. Miserable, that is if you're sane. Perfect if you are a fisherman!! The rain had filled the river with water and oxygen. Replenished its occupants with a fierce appetite and an abundance of food. The inhabitants of the river were therefore active, full of life and that is always good for those who hunt its teeming waters. The first of our fishers was stirred from its tree-top nest by the distant groaning of an Articulated lorry travelling South on the road. The Heron turned its head North towards the drone of the diesel engine, listened to its approach and searched for the glow of its lights through the cloudy night. Then it looked East, searching for the first hint of sunrise. The rain had stopped and as the cloud was beginning to lift, the outlines of the surrounding hills were now visible. The lorry changed gear as it cleared the hill and bend at Dowally and began its smooth descent towards Dunkeld. The Heron looked back towards the approaching sound. Still no sign of its light, the Bird turned again to the East. A faint, but warm red glow was now visible in the sky and the Bird stretched its great wings in preparation for flight, then stood for a moment and looked down river toward its breakfast perch. Shafts of light shot through the mist, as the lorry crossed the bridge over the river at Balnaguard. The Heron leapt into the darkness and flew downriver It landed, just as the lorry passed and its drone changed pitch. The light was changing every second now and the surface of the water shimmered, as the rising sun announced its arrival. Great shafts of red light were arcing up from behind the hills and into the sky and an eerie mist clung to the surface of the water. The sound of the fading lorry changed pitch again, as another vehicle added its own sound to the awakening Glen. The Heron now focussed its attention on the water at its feet and waited patiently for it to disclose its secret world. As the merest hint of blue crept into the fleeing night sky and the rumble of the Inverness train joined the chorus of travelling lorries on the road, the Heron froze. The mirrored surface of the water began to dissolve and hundreds of tiny shadows darted at the bird's feet. Then, in one swift and sudden movement the Heron's beak pierced the water and a second later it withdrew its head, its mouth full of tiny trout. The bird shook the water from its head and swallowed its first food of the day.
2.
Another fisher watched the bird from a spot, a hundred yards upstream, at the foot of a giant oak tree. He smiled at the scene before him. The Heron was lit up by the advancing light, its silhouette magnified by the sparkling water. The sun had arrived and Stanley the Ghillie dusted himself down, stood up and silently moved to his boat. He was the grand old man of the beat. He This last twenty years, he had come back to this particular beat, purely because of its beauty. Without doubt it was one of the bonniest of all beats on the River Tay. Rich Anglers travelled from all over the world and paid small fortunes for a few days Salmon fishing on the Tay and Stanley had it in his careful charge all year round !. It was not, however, the most productive. In fact, the last season had yielded only 71 fish and so far this season, there had only been 17 salmon taken. Everyone was worried. Guests were returning from their days on the river empty-handed, and regardless of the reasons, it was bad for business. Stanley, however, was fishing for himself this morning. He had bided his time, quietly on the bank, watching the Heron arrive with the dawn and listening to th In the darkness he had heard his quarry splash loudly. He knew by the volume of the splash that it was a big fish. He also knew, that now the rain had gone, the salmon would probably become a resident of the pool until night came with more rain. The conditions were perfect and coupled with the warmth that the dawn had filled him with, he was confident he would connect with the fish. He climbed into the boat, started its engine and prepared to fish the Rock Pool.
3.
The Rockpool 05:23
Stanley steered the boat into the middle of the river. He had worked out his own system for using the craft so he could cover parts of the pool he couldn't dream of touching from the bank. He congratulated himself on this unconventional method. Then he switched the outboard off and the boat hung suspended at the top of the pool, in a smooth glide and secured by a rope and hook fixed to the opposite bank. He then sat in the middle of the boat and unpacked his take bag. A mist hung over the pool below him. He looked downstream to the Heron and beyond to the growing sunrise. A feeling of pure contentment rushed through his veins. The world around him was waking up and all around him life flourished. Birdsong filled the air echoing and dancing with the lapping of the water. A swallow appeared. Its acrobatic flight captured his attention and he revelled in its grace and control in the air. Stanley took its arrival as an omen of his good fortune, like most true anglers, and in spite of his beliefs, he was prone to superstition. The swallow dived and leaped and climbed in the air above the river. It circled over slow water above the large outcrop of rock (that gave the pool its name). The first brush of the sun had lifted the temperature and the dawn hatch of flies were leaving their river womb. The Swallow plucked them from the air as they rose from the water in their millions. His rod secured, he lifted his flask from a pocket on his bag and toasted the sun, whispered a Hail Mary, then swallowed a large Malt. Yes, The warmth of the whisky rushed through his body. He put the flask in his pocket, lifted the fly rod and began to cast.
4.
The Fight 04:24
5.
Coda Part 1 01:32
6.
Heaven 02:54
7.
Ova 05:26
8.
Parr 05:52
9.
Smolt 05:44
10.
11.
12.
The Run Home 03:02
13.
Drift Nets 02:07
14.
15.
Friarton Net 01:28
16.
17.
Rockpool 04:34
18.

about

A Musical Story - A Symphonic Journey
An Orchestral Score and a collective of Scotland’s finest Jazz and Folk musicians, alongside Location recordings of the River Tay and it’s specific and unique Sonic environments.
Featuring recordings made nearly 30 years ago on Analogue tape and digitally transferred and married to a re-recorded Orchestral score.

Phil Bancroft plays the Soul of Stanley the Salmon and undertakes a musical interpretation of the Narrative on Penny whistle, Soprano and Tenor Sax, that is both virtuosic and emotionally breathtaking.
His performance is empathically supported by:
John Rae on Drums and Percussion,
Mario Lima Caribe on Fretless Bass,
Colin Steele on Trumpet and Flugelhorn,
Sandy Wright on Accordion,
Julio Pacheco on assorted metal percussion.
Ronnie Goodman on Congas and Djembe
and me on Mandolin, Guitar, and everything else.

Narrators: Jock Ferguson and Andrew Pelc

Saint Peter - Peter Grimes

The story in brief is this:
An old Fisherman catches his biggest Salmon and dies in the
ensuing fight to land him. On arriving at the gates of heaven,
he meets St Peter (ex-fisherman) who sends Stanley the
Ghillie back to Mother Earth, re- incarnating him as a
fish!!. He experiences the underwater world in 12 stages
and re-lives the trials of life through the eyes, emotions and
Life Cycle of a Tay Salmon. King of Fish.

Digitally Mastered @ TheTunesmiths Forge 2018
Go to the Salmons Tail website for more information and an immersive insight.
www.thetunesmith.com

credits

released June 21, 2018

Musicians:
Kevin Murray, Phil Bancroft, John Rae, Mario Lima Caribe,
Ronnie Goodman, Julio Pacheco, Sandy Wright, Colin Steele,, James Gorgon

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Kevin Murray Dundee, UK

Composer, Musician, Songwriter - Tunesmith is shorter!
lives with a cat in a Glen in Scotland where the local wildlife tolerates and encourages students of Music.
Visit the website for more info.

contact / help

Contact Kevin Murray

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Kevin Murray, you may also like: