Scott Twynholm

Scottish musician and composer of the soundtrack for Alasdair Gray, A Life in Progress.

What does Alasdair Gray mean to you?

Explain yourself?

I knew Alasdair through his work and the few chats we had on the phone, while I was working on the soundtrack to Kevin Cameron’s film Alasdair Gray, A Life In Progress.

I’d describe him as restless in the best possible way. Like all great artists he never sat still and was always creating. Jumping from one medium to another to fulfil his creative curiosity, from writing and painting to theatre to poetry. And in his later years, working diligently on his reworking of Dante’s Divine Comedy. 

Ubiquitous! I have lived and worked in Glasgow’s West end for over twenty years and Alasdair is everywhere. I can gaze on his masterpiece at Òran Mór. Ponder his 'All Kinds of Folk’ which bookend the Hillhead Mural. And hear lines of Lanark as I wander around the streets. I love the way he was inspired by Glasgow, thereby giving so much back to the city. And yes, this is also a reference to his regular bar and eatery The Ubiquitous Chip!

And musical... I don’t know if he was ever directly inspired by music but I saw him as a very musical person. In Kevin’s film he is often singing while working. And this appeared to be a natural and happy activity for him to accompany his work. There is also a great musicality in his poetry and speaking voice, from long melodic phrases to staccato bursts. And in the few conversations we had, we ended up singing down the phone to one another.