Joe Stollery

I.               Prelude: Follow the Geese

II.             St Cecilia presents herself at Rathen Church

III.            The Herons, the Piper and the Pool of Gight

IV.           …and they all lived somewhat bewildered for the next couple of hours or so.

V.             Finale: Towards the Desert called Peace

Apparitions from the Land Beyond the Mountains draws inspiration from the folklore and landscapes of Aberdeenshire, weaving together vivid musical tableaux in contrasting sections. Each scene is rooted in local legend: heavenly music drifting through Rathen Church near Peterhead; the distant thunder of war drums on Bennachie, recalling the Battle of Mons Graupius; the mysterious tale of a piper searching for treasure beneath Gight Castle near Ellon; even playful evocations of fairytale figures from Storybook Glen. A prelude introduces the sound of migratory birds - particularly the haunting calls of pink-footed geese - whose return between episodes creates the sense of a journey linking each place. The result is a work that blends myth, memory, and humour, offering a sonic portrait of a region where the natural and the supernatural are inseparably entwined.

Apparitions from the Land Beyond the Mountains was commissioned by Aberdeen City Orchestra, with funds provided by ACO, sound and Hope Scott Trust

PERFORMANCES:

Première: 28 February 2026 - St Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen - Aberdeen City Orchestra (dir. Pete Stollery)