OMI: Michael Ferguson Thursday, 18 June 2009

Posted by The Lost Book in One minute interviews.
Tags: books, composer, interview, scottish chamber orchestra
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Michael is the composer for episode 5 of The Lost Book, which will be launched tomorrow. The music is amazing – you’ll love it! Michael also wrote the music for episode 3 (which we liked so much we’ve used part of it for our Edinburgh film festival showreel).

Michael has composed music for a range of short films and animations, and his work has been screened at festivals worldwide, including the Los Angeles Film Festival, London International Film Festival, Dublin Darklight Festival and Galway International Film Festival. He recently composed the score for the Film London funded The Beachcombers, which won an ITV ‘Best of Borough Award’, presented at BAFTA 2008.

Michael will be blogging about his work on episode 5 next week. In the meantime, why not read his One Minute Interview? We’re still laughing at the alien abduction story…

 

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One minute interview: Michael Ferguson

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Occupation
Orchestra Librarian at the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Composer

Where were you born?
Beverley, East Yorkshire (but my accent gives away the fact that I spent most of my time growing up in Northern Ireland).

Where do you live now?
Edinburgh

How many books are there on your shelves? (Approx.)
50 or so

What’s been the most fun thing about this project? (The first word of your answer must begin with L and the last word begin with B!)
Listening to world-class musicians bringing my scores to life – what could be better?!

Do you think that constraints are creative?
I think constraints are essential to creativity. The creative process, for me, is a constant stream of decisions and compromises – constraints just make it easier to make those decisions.

Who do you think stole the book from the National Library?
The Librarian (never trust ‘em…)

Which book would you most hate to lose?
It’s rather geeky of me, but I’m quite attached to the set of thick black user manuals that come with Logic Pro (the main program I use in my music studio). It’s great to dive into them when I want to do something new with the software and can’t quite figure out how to do it myself! In my job as Orchestra Librarian I’m constantly referring to a book called Orchestral Music: A Handbook by David Daniels, which gives all manner of useful bits of information about orchestral repertoire, such as scorings and publishers. My job would certainly be more difficult without it (…and I would also hate to loose it as it officially belongs to SCO Concerts Director, Judith Colman – my boss!).

Who’s your favourite fictional detective?
Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby from Midsomer Murders

Who’s your favourite fictional dog?
I was a big fan of the Spot books in my childhood, featuring a dog of the same name.

Which book has affected you the most?
The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

When and where do you read the most?
On the train

Where’s your favourite ‘booky’ place?
When I first moved to Edinburgh, I lived a stone’s throw away from Blackwell’s bookshop on South Bridge. Needless to say I spent a lot of time there, and I still can’t resist popping in for a quick browse whenever I’m up that end of town.

What do you like most about a book apart from the story: its size, its smell, its cover, its…?
The fact that you can take it anywhere.

For you what does a book lack the most – music, moving pictures, …?
Narration by Stephen Fry

Have you ever used a book as a 1) doorstop, 2) missile, 3) an excuse not to do the washing up?
1) No – but (shamefully) I’m currently using 4 carefully positioned volumes of the Harry Potter series to lift my speakers to the correct height above my desk in my studio. (Sacrilege I know, but they’re just the right thickness…) 2) Probably 3) Washing up?

Have you ever regarded a book as a friend, or indeed a monster?
When I was young I once persuaded my parents to buy me a supposedly factual book about alien abductions. It freaked me out so much that I ended up throwing in our wheelie-bin just before the bins were emptied!