Directory
Cantilena Festival Duo
Duo - Instrumental
Instrumentation
- Allan Neave - guitar
- Angus Ramsay - violin
Repertoire
Allan and Angus offer a variety of programmes covering all epochs of music including newly arranged Bach sonatas where the guitar serves as a contemporary interpretation of the keyboard, keeping the original structure of the works but introducing a number of different and varied soundscapes.
Biography
Allan studied at the RSAMD and the RNCM. Since then he has been performing worldwide.
He is a regular guest at many of the world’s leading musical events and has worked with many influential musicians including Nikita Koshkin, Edward McGuire, Hans Werner Henze, Gordon McPherson and Stephen Dodgson.
To date, career highlights have included recording Gordon McPherson’s concerto Born of Funk and The Fear of Failing with new music group, Psappha; performing Scottish Guitar Music in Peru, a tour of Australia with virtuoso flautist Alison Mitchell and a further tour of the Far East with Tetra Guitar quartet.
Further highlights include performing Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) in their prom season and recording the soundtrack for a film documentary about the great Scottish painter, John Bellany.
Allan has been Artistic Director of the Dundee International Guitar Festival since its inception and received the Scotland on Sunday Glenfiddich ® Spirit of Scotland Award for Music. These awards were set up to recognise individuals who lead the way in Scottish culture.
Professor Allan Neave is Senior Lecturer in Strings and Head of Guitar Studies at the RCS, Glasgow.
Angus Ramsay initially studied the violin with Leonard Friedman, before moving to the Bernese Conservatoire in Switzerland, where he was a pupil of Max Rostal for five years. In 1975 Angus was appointed principal second violin of the Würtemberg Chamber Orchestra: the following year he was made associate leader of the prestigious Southwest German Chamber Orchestra, a post he held for nine years. Since 1985 he has been principal second violin of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, before retiring in 2022. In 1991, Angus founded the Glasgow Viennese Strings, subsequently touring all over Scotland. He is one of the Artistic Directors of the “Cantilena Festival – Islay” and teaches extensively throughout Scotland including at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Angus also offers a Viennese programme "The Blue Danube" for mixed ensemble.