Reviews and Quotes
"Especially sparkling - undoubted
expertise"
The Times
"Brilliant versatile virtuousity"
Herald Insight, India
"Joyful, exhilarating, full of the
energy of of a lively dance, requiring great skill and concentration
from both soloists and orchestra - Richard Ingham and Mary McCarthy
were excellent"
St Andrews Citizen
"Richard Ingham demonstrated his affinity
with the collage of modernity, and illustrated pibroch and Celtic
strains with no less immaculate delivery....Richard is always
totally in command, still able to produce lyricism at any level
throughout the range."
Clarinet and Saxophone
"Clearly they can play anything -
excellent musicians"
Musical Times
"The quartet goes through its paces
flawlessly"
Saxophone Journal, USA
"A group of remarkable sensitivity"
Yorkshire Post
"Kilairum were slick showstoppers
in their own right"
The Scotsman
"Richard Ingham showed how he could
blow saxophone tone into the sound world of clarsachs"
The Herald
"Richard Ingham and Mary McCarthy's
sensitivity and love of the music comes across in their playing...great
ensemble awareness as well as skilful control of their instruments...haunting
melodies are beautifully shaped and well balanced"
Clarinet and Saxophone
"The poetry and jazz wowed us all
out...a brilliant contribution to the poetry weekend."
Callander Poetry Festival
CONDUCTOR
"If anything can be said to have
a 'WOW' factor, then massed saxophones fit the bill, especially
when presented with imagination and musicality by the National
Saxophone Choir, amassed from far and wide. A shock tactic first
entry for Bach's Toccata set the scene for a matchless evening.
Bach would surely have approved, especially of subterranean
depths from the monster contrabass sax. The first half tantalised
with a tautly rhythmical lively reel, a fun Crazy Rag containing
splendid solo spots, contrasting with subtly haunting lyricism
in Piazzolla's Oblivion. Clever arrangements, many by the group's
founder Nigel Wood, frequently emulated orchestral grandeur
and magnificent organ sonorities. Conductor Richard Ingham did
justice to Elgar's Nimrod sentimentality."
Birmingham Post
"Expertly directed by their principal
guest conductor, Richard Ingham, the ensemble showed versatility
from the start, with an arrangement by Nigel Wood of the famous
Bach organ Toccata, followed immediately by Mrs Malcolm, Her
Reel (Funky Freuchie), a fast-paced reel by Richard Ingham,
full of bass riffs with attitude.....The ensemble performed
with precision and conviction throughout."
Clarinet and Saxophone
COMPOSER
"The combination of solo instruments
and orchestra led to marvellous textures...Ingham's beautiful
soprano saxophone distinct and soaring...the third movement
was excellent, an energetic sort of Gaelic bothy band medley
that seemed simply relentless"
Dundee Courier
"Richard Ingham's Double Concerto for saxophone,
accordion, strings and percussion was commissioned by Gillain
Craig with funds made available by the Scottish Arts Council.
The combination of instruments may be unusual but the resulting
composition more than justifies its creation. In Evening in
Hyderabad, the soloists and orchestra seem initially to be at
odds with each other but they create a complete picture of the
energetic hustle and bustle of a busy and, to us, exotic city.
There is a strong sense of drive which underlines the musical
structure. The second movement, Torridon Levels, is most evocative
and colourful with very imaginative use made of the tuned percussion
instruments. The final movement, Return to Kingsbarns, is joyful,
exhilarating, full of the energy of a lively dance, requiring
great skill from both soloists and orchestra. This is a new
work which deserves to be taken into the repertoire of other
orchestras."
Bela Simandi
"In the sma scale grandness o St Andrews
Pairlament Ha, a warld premiere wis hauden o Drift o Rain on
Moorland Stane. It wis gien an innin in croose Scots bi StAnza's
Drew Clegg. This suite haed been commissioned bi the Music Centre
o the University o St Andrews. Richard Ingham, a visitin jazz
professor, haed a chance meetin wi Aimée Chalmers, editor
o The Singin Lass, bi Marion Angus. The ootcome o this wis the
production o the suite written tae accompany 16 o Marion Angus'
poems. The poems wis read bi Aimée Chalmers an the music
played bi the Heisenberg Ensemble, directit bi Richard Ingham.
As the music swee'd "in an aroond" the poems, the
souch chynged tae chime wi the souch o the words. This reinged
frae the discordant for The Stranger; strang, sudden even soonds
like the pangs o emotion for Jealousy; slaw waltzing an chirrupin
for the wistfu, ironic view o Spring's comin in Turn o the Day
an the repeatin, triumphant blawin o "the hindmaist trumpet's
blast" in The Lane Kirkyaird. The unique ongaun wis highly
chairged. The effeck on the appreciative audience wis amazin,
movin some tae tears. There's ettles tae record the piece."
Scots Tung
"Richard Ingham's Taj Mahal (Monument
of Love) is a meditative movement incorporating harmonic, melodic
and rhythmic elements of Indian music .A downwards-building
cluster chord introduces a decorated, quasi improvisatory solo
over a drone for Sally MacTaggart on soprano, assured and communicative.
After a rhythmic section and tabla solo, the music cuts out
leaving just the drone, then high pitched pianissimo chords
creating an ethereal ending, shimmering and heat hazy like the
building itself"
Clarinet and Saxophone
AUTHOR
The Cambridge Companion to the Saxophone, ed Richard Ingham (Cambridge University Press, 1999)
"It has always been puzzling why,
until now, there has been no comprehensive reference book for
players, students and enthusiasts of the saxophone, so this
publication is therefore of tremendous value. Richard Ingham
has provided three individual chapters, among them a survey
of jazz from the perspective of the saxophone, which is both
fascinating and well constructed.....an indispensable reference
source for all those with an interest in the instrument"
BBC Music Magazine
"Sax's principal legacy is well served
in this Companion, whose authorship represents a glittering
cross-section of the international saxophone community....The
text will prove attractive to both the casual reader and saxophile,
containing much academic detail in its compelling narrative.
This Companion finely balances appraisals of virtuoso performers
and saxophone repertory with penetrating advice on playing the
instrument in a variety of contexts, including the recording
studio. The book is handsomely produced, and enhanced by John
Robert Brown's stylish pencil drawings of great personalities
from the world of the saxophone. For anyone with even a passing
interest in its subject, the Companion positively demands investigation."
The Times Literary Supplement
"This book manages one of the most
difficult accomplishments in literature: to be at the same time
entertaining, informative and scholarly...This may be the most
complete narrative book on the saxophone available. For professional
saxophonists who know the instrument well, it will be a great
reminder of the many personalities of the saxophone and will
show them some new information about each of those areas. For
amateur saxophone lovers, this book will introduce a great collection
of new information, presented at the highest level but easy
to read."
Saxophone Journal, USA
"This is, by definition, a book for
enthusiasts and connoisseurs written by highly experienced practitioners.
It is clearly a major step forward in documenting the saxophone
in all its aspects."
Music and Letters
EDUCATOR
"The course was fantastic...This is
an excellent way to transfer from classical to jazz idiom"
ABRSM course participant
"The course was fabulous and I am
determined to keep the momentum going on the jazz side. I'm
very much looking forward to going on the intermediate course."
ABRSM course participant
"I thought this was a thoroughly worthwhile
day and well worth the money. Our course leader was charming,
put everyone at their ease really quickly and helped to demystify
the whole jazz/improvisation myth. A very informative and enjoyable
day."
ABRSM course participant
"How did sax maestro Richard Ingham
and piano maestro Richard Michael, both of them internationally
recognised jazz cognoscenti, find themselves stoking the jazz
fires in one of Britain’s most remote outposts? What brought
them here? What’s all the Big Noise?"
Music Teacher Magazine
"Just to let you know what a wonderful
time we had with the Jazz workshop.
What a wonderful performance they and our pupils put on for
everyone."
Primary Headteacher
"We found it really hard to stand
still and not smile when you played some
funky jazz on the Saxophone and Piano"
P5 pupil
"A most memorable and excellent course
with fantastic tutors."
St Andrews course student
"A brilliant course."
St Andrews course student
"A terrific course."
St Andrews course student
"Fun and truly inspirational."
St Andrews course student
"We have had such great feedback from
those who took part saying how they enjoyed the day and how
truly inspiring it was to work with you and hear you play."
Saxophone day course
"A huge thank you for such an inspirational
session. I thoroughly enjoyed the second session, and found
clarity in your demonstrations and explanations that I have
not often met."
Saxophone in-service day
"Excellent, very interesting, inspirational,
very well-delivered."
Illustrated lecture on compositions