"Stevenson's classy arrangements
elicit irrepressible charm
with ne’er a cliched moment"
Ken Walton, Vox Carnyx
elicit irrepressible charm
with ne’er a cliched moment"
Ken Walton, Vox Carnyx
Betsy Taylor finds great joy and creative fulfillment performing with Earthtones Trio, a group she co-founded with two dear friends, Katherine Bryan and Euan Stevenson. Playing alongside Katherine, her best friend and fellow Royal Scottish National Orchestra principal, is a uniquely rewarding experience for Betsy.
Their close bond allows for a rich, intuitive musical dialogue, where they effortlessly blend their individual voices into a unified, expressive whole.
One of the aspects Betsy cherishes most about Earthtones Trio is the exploration of tonal colors that emerge from this distinctive ensemble. The combination of flute, cello, and piano provides an extraordinary palette for her to draw from, blending the delicate, airy timbres of the flute with the deep, resonant voice of her cello. This sonic fusion offers an endless range of textures and emotional depth, allowing her to expand her creative expression beyond the boundaries of traditional classical ensembles.
Their close bond allows for a rich, intuitive musical dialogue, where they effortlessly blend their individual voices into a unified, expressive whole.
One of the aspects Betsy cherishes most about Earthtones Trio is the exploration of tonal colors that emerge from this distinctive ensemble. The combination of flute, cello, and piano provides an extraordinary palette for her to draw from, blending the delicate, airy timbres of the flute with the deep, resonant voice of her cello. This sonic fusion offers an endless range of textures and emotional depth, allowing her to expand her creative expression beyond the boundaries of traditional classical ensembles.
Unlike the structured environment of orchestral performance, where precision and adherence to the score are paramount, Earthtones Trio gives Betsy a liberating sense of freedom. The trio's fluid approach to blending classical, jazz, and folk influences encourages improvisation and personal interpretation, allowing her to engage with the music in a more spontaneous and organic way. Working with Euan Stevenson, whose compositions are both accessible and richly layered, adds another dimension to her performance. Euan’s ability to fuse different genres into a cohesive soundscape resonates with Betsy’s own versatility as a musician. Together, the trio creates performances that feel fresh and evocative, always pushing the boundaries of genre and expectation.
Earthtones Trio has garnered significant support from Classic FM, becoming enthusiastic champions of the ensemble. Classic FM regularly features their Christmas releases, praising the trio's unique ability to blend classical, jazz, and folk traditions into festive arrangements. Their haunting and beautifully crafted renditions, particularly of pieces like O Come, O Come Emmanuel, have become a seasonal favourite, further cementing the trio's place as a staple in contemporary classical music. This exposure has helped Earthtones Trio reach an even wider audience.
Earthtones Trio has garnered significant support from Classic FM, becoming enthusiastic champions of the ensemble. Classic FM regularly features their Christmas releases, praising the trio's unique ability to blend classical, jazz, and folk traditions into festive arrangements. Their haunting and beautifully crafted renditions, particularly of pieces like O Come, O Come Emmanuel, have become a seasonal favourite, further cementing the trio's place as a staple in contemporary classical music. This exposure has helped Earthtones Trio reach an even wider audience.
For Betsy, playing with Earthtones Trio isn’t just a musical project; it’s a deeply personal and artistic endeavour. The balance of friendship, creative exploration, and the performing freedom make this ensemble a source of joy and inspiration for her.
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As expected, this collaboration has resulted in the creation of beautiful music, beautifully played. Euan Stevenson's superb arrangements performed with Betsy Taylor and Katherine Bryan, both outstanding musicians from the RSNO, is something that all audiences enjoy immensely.
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