Carnyx & Co and John Kenny achievements to date
1997
The Voice of the Carnyx, aCD Album of new music composed for John Kenny, including the first ever recorded composition for carnyx.
Nomad, a CD album exploring the carnyx with percussion and voice, music by Bassam Abdul Salam, featuring the Polarity Percussion Ensemble and the voice of David Moss.
Forest~River~Ocean, for carnyx, string quartet and electronics, by Nigel Osborne, performed with the Ygdrassil Quartet at Aberdeen.
Forest~River~Ocean recorded for CD at Greyfriar’s Kirk, Edinburgh.
Forest~River~Ocean and The Voice of The Carnyx performed at the
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.
1998
Throat by John Purser, for soprano, carnyx and percussion, performed at the Illios Festival, Norway.
John Kenny lecture “Mouthpiece of The Gods.” Erfurt, Germany
NOMAD, by Bassam Abdul-Salam, performed and recorded for CD at Erfurt, Germany.
The Gathering 2nd Highland Tour.
Forest~River~Ocean, a CD album produced featuring new works for the carnyx with string quartet, electronics, voice, percussion, released on the British Music Label.
Acoustic analyses of Deskford Carnyx, Edinburgh University.
The Mouthpiece of the Gods, John Kenny solo lecture recital, delivered at Kloster Michaelstein, Blankenburg, Germany.
The Mouthpiece of the Gods, John Kenny solo lecture recital, Hannover University.
John Kenny recorded a series of improvisations in the 18th C Ice House, Dalkeith Palace.
Aberystwyth International Musicfest: Voice of The Carnyx, Cry of Wolf.
The Mouthpiece of the Gods, John Kenny solo lecture recital at the European Youth Parliament, St. Andrew’s University Theatre.
Richard Demarko/European Youth Parliament: Cry of The Wolf.
The Mouthpiece of the Gods, John Kenny solo lecture recital at Kilmardinny House.
The Mouthpiece of the Gods, John Kenny solo lecture recital at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama International Brass Spectacular.
Scot Free improvising composers’ ensemble formed by Carnyx & Co
Arc En Ciel by John Kenny, Brash Brass Blast from the Past by Etienne Rolin, and Taxus Baccata by Mike Dunning commissioned by Carnyx & Co, commissioned by Edinburgh Contemporary Arts Trust, premièred at the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh workshops.
Musica Italia/Ecat at Greyfriar’s Kirk, a duo improvisation with Italian recorder virtuoso David Bellugi.
Lecture and recital by John Kenny and Fraser Hunter at the International Historic Brass Conference, Kloster Michaelstein, Germany.
World Premier of Inheritance Ark, by Alistair MacDonald at the opening ceremony of the National Museum of Scotland.
John Kenny performed The Voice of the Carnyx at the launch of the UK Diageo Foundation at the National Museum of Scotland.
1999
UK premier of Epopee Celtique by Edward MacGuire, for carnyx, choir and orchestra with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the Celtic Connections Festival, Glasgow.
John Kenny solo lecture recital The Mouthpiece of the Gods at the Hannover Hochschule.
Heriot Watt University: The Mouthpiece of The Gods.
The Late, Late Show, premiere of Eraig, by Simon O’Dwyer, at the RTE Studio Theatre, Dublin.
World Premiere of music for carnyx, Irish Bronze Age horns, and bohdran by Michael Hollohan at the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
The Mouthpiece of the Gods performed at the opening ceremony of the University of the Highlands & Islands, Skye.
World premiere of Locking Horns for saxophone and carnyx by Etienne Rolin at the Institut Francais d’Ecosse.
Filming of acoustic research on Orkney & Shetland, with John Purser, Simon O’Dwyer, and Joachim Schween for Chanel 4 Wales and the University of the Highlands and Islands.
John Kenny performed The Voice of the Carnyx at the annual ABSA Awards Ceremony, Edinburgh Festival Theatre.
Mouthpiece of The Gods lecture recital and trio recital with with Etienne Rolin (sax/flute) and Marc Depond (voice/percussion) at the Musee Tumulous de Bougon, France.
A CD recording of Locking Horns duo, Musee Tumulous de Bougon.
The Cry of The Wolf by John Kenny for solo carnyx performed at the Linlithgow Early Music Festival.
Carnyx Gala Concert, National Museum of Scotland/Edinburgh Fringe. World Premiere of Beastly Brothers for carnyx and trombone quartet by Etienne Rolin.
Recording for CD of Beastly Brothers and Chrichton Cries, by Etienne Rolin for carnyx and trombone quartet at Chrichton Collegiate Chapel.
John Kenny performs on carnyx with the Bronze Age Band, John Purser, Maria Cullen, and Simon O’Dwyer at Balnain House and Inverness Cathedral.
Live interview for Canadian National Broadcasting, “Black On Black.”
Mouthpiece of The Gods, Cry of the Wolf, The Voice of The Carnyx, Beastly Brothers performed at Royal Danish Conservatoire, Aarhus.
2000
The Company of Heaven by James MacMillan. Commissioned by the Partick 2000 festival, scored for solo carnyx with children’s choir, organ, and mixed instrumental ensembles.
Mouthpiece of The Gods performed at Bordeaux Conservatoire, France.
World premieres of Millenium Minds by Etienne Rolin, scored for
carnyx with jazz trio and string quintet, and Earth Life by Francois Rosse, for carnyx
solo at the festival of Mont de Marsan France.
The Mouthpiece of the Gods, Royal Society of Musicians, Aberdeen.
The Mouthpiece of The Gods at the Conservatoire of Brussels, Belgium.
Beastly Brothers performed at the Borders Tryst Festival, Lauder.
Epopee Celtique by Edward McGuire for solo carnyx with orchestra and choir, performed on the Isle of Man.
John Kenny featured soloist at the International Trombone Festival, Utrecht.
Striking Sparks Festival residency at the Natural History Museum, London.
Throat by John Purser performed at the Vale of Glamorgan Festival.
The Secret House multi-media music theatre for four musicians, two dancers, two puppeteers, ambisonic sound projection, and film. Commissioned by Duff House with funds from the Scottish Arts Council and Lottery Commission.
UK tour, with Kathryn Tickell’s Ensemble Mystical, featuring solo carnyx with folk ensemble, leading to the release of the award-winning CD Album Ensemble Mystical.
2001
Sussano-Wo double concerto for bass trombone, percussionist, and Javanese Gamelan by John Kenny, commissioned by the Festival d’Angers, France.
Moon Palace a music theatre production for trombone, clarinet/basset horn, piano, bass, and percussion, with two actors and two dancers, set to Paul Stebbings’ adaptation of the novel by American author Paul Auster. Score by John Kenny. Commissioned by the American Drama Group of Europe, premièred at Amerika Hause, Munich.
Connections Festival Glasgow – UK premiere of Liadain, by John Kenny for soprano voice, percussion, carnyx and three bombards.
2002
Nid de guêpes – French film-noire, music by Alexadre Desplat, featuring solo carnyx.
Hypothetically Murdered a multi-media production based upon piano sketches by Dmitri Shostakovich, realised for an ensemble of 2 trombones doubling violin and recorders, flautist doubling clarinet and basset horn, two violins, and accordionist by John Kenny, conceived in collaboration with choreographer Eric Tessier Lavigne and film maker John McGeoch, commissioned by and premièred at Duff House, Banff, northern Scotland. Highland tour and Edinburgh Fringe.
Eastern Trombone Workshop, Arlington USA – John Kenny featured soloist, masterclasses, and lecture.
2003
Time Flyers – TV documentary series.
Amaterasu – CD album featuring the music of John Kenny.
Stade de France, Nuits Magique Celtique John Kenny performed The Voice of the
Carnyx solo to an audience of 65,000, promoted by the Lorient Festival Interceltique.
Trombone Quartet by John Kenny, commissioned by the Bones Apart Quartet, with funds
(Warwick Music UK) provided by the Royal Overseas League, and premièred at St.
John’s Smith Square, London.
The Old Woman of Bear a song cycle by John Kenny for soprano, trombone, and percussion, commissioned by the New Haven international festival of Arts and Ideas, USA.
Bleaklow Fragment for trombone and piano composed by John Kenny in memory of composer Paul Keenan.
Locking Horns – CD album of music by Etienne Rolin featuring the carnyx with jazz ensemble, trombone quartet, and saxophone.
Irish National Concert Hall John Kenny artist in residence.
2004
International Trombone Festival Minneapolis USA. John Kenny duo with George
Nicholson, piano.
A Field of Scarecrows – CD album of music for trombone and piano, performed by John Kenny and George Nicholson, in memory of Paul Keenan.
Doric for solo trombone by John Kenny with live electronics and manipulated environmental sound score. Commissioned by Deveron Arts, and premièred in Huntly and at Aberdeen SOUND Festival, London’s Barbican Centre and at Edinburgh’s Dialogues Festival.
Liadain, song cycle for soprano, carnyx, percussion and 3 bombards, trumpets, or oboes. Commissioned by the Lorient Festival Interceltique, France.
Sonata for Contra Bass Trombone commissioned by Icelandic/American soloist David Bobrof with funding from the International Trombone Association and Scottish Arts Council (Warwick Music UK).
2005
Das A und Das O: The Revelation of St. John, based upon the contemporary German translation by the poet Walter Jens, for trombonist playing alto tenor and bass trombones, organ, and narrator. Commissioned by the Landshut Festival, Bavaria, and premièred at the Auferstehungskirche, Landshut, on December 11th, by Michael Buettler, trombones, Georg Rothenaicre, organ, and John Kenny, narrator.
HeadSpace by John Kenny for the newly developed “Head=Space” instrument created by Rolf Gehlhaar, played by quadriplegic musician Clarence Adoo, and the formation of the HeadSpace Ensemble. The world premiere took place on June 22 as part of the St. Magnus Festival, Orkney, with subsequent performances and a BBC TV documentary at the Sage Gateshead in 2006. In 2007 the project toured to the Casa da Musica, Porto, Portugal.
Hela’r Twrch Trwyth the first in a series of animated films in collaboration with artist Sean Harris, dealing with myth, archaeology, and musical archaeology.
2006
Nocturne for solo trombone with chamber choir, commissioned and premièred by Vokal Nord, Norway at the Arctic Cathedral of Tromsø and in Harstadt, on June 23-24.
The Taming of the Shrew (composition and musical direction by John Kenny): TNT Music Theatre co-production, which toured the Far East and Europe for over 90 performances.
Dadeni an animated film collaboration with Sean Harris and Wild Boar Press.
Ritual of Wood and Bronze for carnyx and four fujara flutes (two-metre-long Slovenian folk flutes) for the Banska Festival, Slovakia, commissioned by Cap à l’Est Festival, Slovakia.
2007
Silo Rondo for two trombones and electric guitar for multimedia performance as part of Carnyx & Co Glen Fiddich Artists’ Residency.
Trombone Quartet by John Kenny, premièred in Beijing.
Aerial Cartography by John Kenny for harp, trombone, and string quartet.
Balvennie Castle by John Kenny for carnyx, trumpet and horn premièred at BBC Proms in the Park, Glasgow, to a live audience of 20,000 and nationwide broadcast on New Year’s Eve.
Mona animated film collaboration with Sean Harris & Wild Boar Press.
Dark House for trombone, organ, and percussion by John Kenny, commissioned by City of Wroclaw, Poland.
Sonata for female trombone solo, “Secret House” by John Kenny for and dedicated to Emily White.
International Trombone Festival China – Beijing. John Kenny featured soloist, masterclasses, carnyx lecture recital The Mouthpiece of the Gods.
2008
Secret House Film directed by John Kenny, premièred at Glenfiddich Audio Visual Centre on May 23rd, subsequently released with a presentation book. Supported by the William Grant Foundation.
The Song of the Axe, Songs from Stones, and Observations of an Alien three animated film collaborations with Sean Harris & Wild Board Press.
Multiplex for solo electronics and trombone/carnyx, composed on UPIC while in residence at the Xenakis Centre, La Tourette, France.
2009
Embracing the Unknown CD album on Brass Classics of new works for trombone, harp, and String quartet. Music by Peter Swan, Edward McGuire, John Kenny, Etienne Rolin, Andrian Pervasov Perfomed by Catriona McKay, John Kenny, and the Edinburgh Quartet.
Museum Silkeborg, Denmark – The Mouthpiece of the Gods lecture recital in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe 11.
Romeo and Juliet score by John Kenny for TNT Music Theatre (nine-month world tour).
Dark Night of the Soul for flute and trombone duo, and Wild Stone for carnyx & flute, commissioned by Artists Now. Lecture recital tour of the USA.
2010
Tam Lin Suite for clarinet, piano, trombone and narrator, in collaboration with Dick Lee and James Ross. Commissioned by the Celtic Connections Festival, Glasgow.
The Mystery of Edgar Allen Poe, music theatre score in collaboration with pianist Paul Flush, for TNT Music Theatre, Germany.
2011
The Eagle, film story of the lost 9th legion, music by Atli Örvarsson featuring Deskford Carnyx.
Street Sessions improvised duos for trombone and piano with pianist David Dolan, put into the public domain via Carnyx & Co YouTube channel.
Ironclad British action historical drama film directed by Jonathan English, score by Lorne Balfe featuring solo carnyx.
2012
The Mystery of Illiam Dhone historical music theatre production in collaboration with the American Drama Group Europe, premiered on the Isle of Man.
International Trombone Festival, Paris: John Kenny featured soloist, lecture recitals and masterclasses on trombone and carnyx.
2013
The Wave music theatre production for American Drama Group Europe, based on the novel by Morton Rue, score by John Kenny.
2014
International Trombone Festival, Eastman School of Music, USA.
Multiplex 2: for trombone with UPIC generated sound score plus live electronics, premiered at the International Trombone Festival, Rochester New York.
Martin Luther King – American Dreams and Nightmares: music theatre production in collaboration with Paul Stebbings and TNT Theatre Co.
2015
Tintignac Carnyx reconstruction project achieved.
Carnyx Youth Brass. Developed by John Kenny & Carnyx & Co in collaboration with St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh, this ten piece brass ensemble has become a student to professional transitional ensemble. Its first CD, Stormchaser, was released in December 2015.
HiNote. Seeking to extend the possibilities of HeadSpace, Carnyx & Co collaborated with Rolf Ghelhar and his son Vahakn Matossian to establish an independent company, Human Instruments. A new instrument, called HiNote was unveiled at the 2016 Setubal Festival in Portugal, featuring in three new compositions. The HeadSpace Ensemble rehearsed and performed these works and presented the programme at the Cumnock Tryst Festival, Scotland.
Nocturne by John Kenny for Brass Quintet with solo trombonist-actor, a setting of poems by the poet Brian Nisbet commissioned by Spanish Brass and premiered at the International Trombone Festival, Valencia.
The Merchant of Venice: incidental music for TNT/American Drama Group Europe’s production, premiered in Munich February, touring world-wide until September.
Pandora’s Box toured to the Galway Early Music Festival in Ireland and Setubal Festival in Portugal.
The Marshall Plan – CD album by Scot Free Ensemble, featuring the poetry of Grantly Marshall in settings by John Kenny.
The Celts, Blood Iron and Sacrifice – three-part BBC documentary series with Alice Roberts and Neil Oliver, episode featuring carnyx.
British Museum: Celts: Art and Identity – Carnyx recital for opening.
2016
Tintignac Carnyx. With the generous financial support of The William Grant Foundation, a reconstruction of the Tintignac Carnyx was commissioned from Jean Boisserie, now in the permanent keeping of Carnyx & Co, to enable further research, recordings, performances, and lectures.
Loughnashade Horn. In May 2016, craftsman John Creed, maker of the Deskford Carnyx, presented Carnyx & Co with a reconstruction of the Loughnashade Horn, the Iron Age Irish cousin of the carnyx. This magnificent instrument is now on permanent loan to Carnyx & Co.
The Deer’s Cry, by John Kenny for 21 solo voices with Deskford Carnyx and Loughnashade Horn for the choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, premièred at the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music May 2016, and released on the Delphian CD album Set upon the Rood.
The Dream of the Rood for Soprano solo, Tintignac Carnyx, 2 Bronze Luurs, 3 trombones, and bronze bells, commissioned by the Norwegian Arts Council, premiered at the Vestervig Festival, Jutland, May 2016.
Pandora’s Box. Concert and workshop tour of Northern Spain and participation in the Cumnock Tryst Festival alongside HeadSpace Ensemble, including The Barony A-Frame by Scott Lygate, commissioned for Cumnock Tryst.
Dragon Voices Duo. John & Patrick Kenny performed and lecture in residence at Ysted Abbey, Sweden. Supported by the European Music Archaeology Project.
Embracing the Unknown – A CD album of music for harp, trombone and string quartet by composers Etienne Rolin, Peter Swan, Edward Maguire, Andras Pevvazov and John Kenny.
The Secrets of the Carnyx – film and exhibition as part of The Celts exhibition.
2017
Lifetime Achievement Award presented to John Kenny by the International Trombone Association ” in recognition of his distinguished career and in acknowledgement of his impact on the world of the trombone.”
Deskford Carnyx No3 is commissioned on behalf of Carnyx & Co from John Creed with the financial support of the William Grant Foundation.
Dragon Voices – CD album of compositions by John Kenny, exploring the Deskford and Tintignac carnyces, Lochnashade Horn, Etruscan Lituus and Queen Conch.
Set upon the Rood – CD album featuring contemporary music on ancient instruments, featuring works by James MacMillan and John Kenny.
Dragon Voices Duo. Performances in collaboration with the European Archaeology Project in Scot land, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, and Denmark.
The Deer’s Cry – performed by Dragon Voices with the choir of Gonville & Caius in Kings College Chapel, Cambridge.
My Sister Syria – A TNT Theatre Co production in collaboration with Paul Stebbings, drawing, touring Europe, and Asia. Score by John Kenny, performed by Scot Free Ensemble.
Notre Dame de Paris – a music theatre production with Theatre du Heron, Nantes, in French language. Score by John Kenny, performed by Scot Free Ensemble.
Multiplex 3 for solo trombone, live electronics, and interactive film installation, commissioned by and premiered at the International Trombone Festival, Redlands, CA. Film by Kenneth McQueenie, music by John Kenny.
Secret House CD and Film double album produced by Carnyx & Co.
Gundestrup Rituals by John Purser, scored for three Deskford carnyces, commissioned with the generous support of the William Grant Foundation.
2018
Historic Environment lecture recital The Mouthpiece of the Gods, Stirling Castle.
Dragon Voices performances in collaboration with EMAP, Brandenburg, Rome, and Soria.
Singing at the Edge of the World, by John Kenny for solo female trumpeter with sound score and live electronics dedicated to Clara Hyder, premiered in London, and filmed at Brancepeth Castle, County Durham.
Beautiful Bones – physical music theatre collaboration with Love Music, premiered at Glasgow’s Surge Festival. Score by Stephen Deazley.
2019
Guthan Aosta – Multimedia work for ancient instruments, text by John Purser, score by John Kenny, choreography by Diane Briffa , presented by Moveo Dance Company, directed by Ruben Zhara. Commissioned by the Malta International Arts Festival and premiered at the Hagar Quim Neolithic temple, Malta.
Carnyx Brass. Commissions of new works by young Scottish composers for ten-piece brass ensemble and choir. Bright Horizons project, in collaboration with Eclectic Voices.
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme – A Theatre du Heron co- production in French language, premiered in Munich, toured worldwide throughout 2019 & 2020. Score by John Kenny, performed by Scot Free Ensemble.
Free Mandela – a TNT Theatre Co production, in collaboration with Paul Stebbings, premiered on the Island of Lindau October 2019, touring worldwide throughout 2019 and 2020. Score by John Kenny, performed by Scot Free Ensemble.
2020/21
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla video game and album soundtrack, music by Sarah Shachner, featuring John Kenny on carnyx.
Le Petit Prince – a Theatre du Heron production in collaboration with Gaspard Legendre, premiered in Nantes, France October 2020. Sponsored by the Marks Family Trust. Live music by John Kenny.
Over Lunan a multi-media environmental theatre production. Dragon Voices in collaboration with Aproxima Productions.
Songs from A Book of Herne – Song cycle by John Kenny, setting poems by Eric Mottram, London premiere at King’s College London.
American Trombone Workshop Arlington, USA. Featured soloist John Kenny, also in duo with bass trombonist David Taylor.
Luna by John Kenny, for solo female horn player, with sound score, singing bowls, tam-tam, and live electronics. Commissioned by Robyn Blair with the support of the Hope Scott Trust. Premiered at the Royal Academy of Music.
2022
Cumnock Tryst. World Premiere of Gundestrup Rituals for three Deskford Carnyces by John Purser (postponed from 2020 due to the Pandemic) performed by Dragon Voices Trio: Patrick Kenny, Ian Sankey & John Kenny.
Carnyx Brass Bright Horizons project, world premieres of new works by young Scottish composers in London and Edinburgh, with the generous support of William Grant Foundation, Hope Scott rust and William Syson Foundation.
Animal Farm – A Theatre du Heron production in English, premiered in Munich, touring Europe, Scandinavia, and South America throughout 2023. Score by John Kenny, performed by Scot Free Ensemble.
2023
Occurens Sonus, Spain. Commission, rehearsal and premiere of the concerto for Carnyx & strings by Berndt Redman, and double concerto for Pompeii Cornu and Deskford Carnyx by American film composer Lior Rosner.
Locking Horns. Recitals, recordings and lectures in Spain and France Etienne Rolin and John Kenny.
Nighthawkes a film score by John Kenny, for the National Film Theatre.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Special. Carnyx Brass at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.
Antika Arkana launch of collaborative ensemble with lyre player composer Julian Cuvilliez.
2024
TARAN a music theatre collaboration with Antika Arkana. Music by Franck Matthieu, sponsored by Samara Archaeopark.
2025
Revelation Tintignac. Workshop collaboration with Locking Horns, Dragon Voices and Champs Sonore, Bordeaux. Six new compositions with poetry, exploring the Tintignac Carnyx.
Damsel a Netflix film, music by David Fleming featuring carnyx.
The Dragon and the Dove Orleans Art Gallery and Museum of Archaeology, France. Duo lecture recital and research residency with Julian Cuvilliez, lyre.
Revelation Tintignac, Chateau de Sédières, Corrèze, France.
Locking Horns duo, Etienne Rolin & John Kenny, Bordeaux
Antika Arkana, Site archéologique à Saint-Saturnin-du-Bois
https://www.niortmaraispoitevin.com/en/activites/site-archeologique-a-saint-saturnin-du-bois
ANIMUSIC Congress, Funchal, Madeira
https://congressorganimusic.wixsite.com/animusic-cong2025