Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Sluaisreadh is an onomatopoeic Gaelic word meaning the peaceful sound of the sea ebbing and swirling against the shore. The piece journeys from this tranquil sound to increasingly destructive, dangerous sea sounds which are the consequences of climate change.
The piece transitions through sections, each one representing a Gaelic word used to describe types of sea sounds in different contexts: sluaisreadh (swirling), cireasail (giggling), glumaradh (glugging against a boat), seathan (rolling on a wide open sea), ròcail (croaking, roaring into a cave), sachdadh (wheezing), corghlaich (noisy confusion), gaoir (wailing), sad (venomous). The wealth of such evocative descriptions is testament to the profound connection to the sea in Gaelic culture.
Material is derived from the speech rhythms of these words and two Gaelic songs about the sea. Instrumental parts blend with field recordings I took of the sea in my home area, Morvern in the West Highlands, during different weather conditions.
Note by Lisa Robertson
Recorded live at LSO St Luke's on Saturday 10 January 2026.
Daniel Shao flute
David Alberman violin
Chihiro Ono viola
Valerie Welbanks cello
Rachael Gibson electronics
Gregor Sinclair Videographer
#LondonSymphonyOrchestra #ContemporaryMusic #ChamberMusic
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Sluaisreadh is an onomatopoeic Gaelic word meaning the peaceful sound of the sea ebbing and swirling against the shore. The piece journeys from this tranquil sound to increasingly destructive, dangerous sea sounds which are the consequences of climate change.
The piece transitions through sections, each one representing a Gaelic word used to describe types of sea sounds in different contexts: sluaisreadh (swirling), cireasail (giggling), glumaradh (glugging against a boat), seathan (rolling on a wide open sea), ròcail (croaking, roaring into a cave), sachdadh (wheezing), corghlaich (noisy confusion), gaoir (wailing), sad (venomous). The wealth of such evocative descriptions is testament to the profound connection to the sea in Gaelic culture.
Material is derived from the speech rhythms of these words and two Gaelic songs about the sea. Instrumental parts blend with field recordings I took of the sea in my home area, Morvern in the West Highlands, during different weather conditions.
Note by Lisa Robertson
Recorded live at LSO St Luke's on Saturday 10 January 2026.
Daniel Shao flute
David Alberman violin
Chihiro Ono viola
Valerie Welbanks cello
Rachael Gibson electronics
Gregor Sinclair Videographer
#LondonSymphonyOrchestra #ContemporaryMusic #ChamberMusic
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the LSO's channel: bit.ly/LSOsubscribe
Subscribe to LSO newsletter: https://smarturl.it/lsonewsletter
Follow the LSO on:
Instagram: instagram.com/londonsymphonyorchestra
Facebook: facebook.com/londonsymphonyorchestra
TikTok: tiktok.com/@londonsymphonyorchestra
Twitter: twitter.com/londonsymphony
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/london-symphony-orchestra
Website: lso.co.uk
Apple Music: geni.us/yH0sXY
Spotify: spoti.fi/291cCk0
LSO Live: lsolive.lso.co.uk
