Rhona Smith and Su-a Lee have recorded “Bridge Over Little Stream” a piece composed by Rhona.
You can watch it here:
Rhona and Su-a first met through a Distill project in 2017 when Rhona wrote her piece “Shetland Journey” for Mr McFalls Chamber, performed in the Tollbooth in Stirling as part of the Distill Showcase.
Following this project Su-a and Rhona met up several times to work on ideas and develop material. Hands Up For Trad asked Rhona to compose a piece with the idea of Su-a and Rhona being the artists who would perform it. Bridge over Little Stream was not the obvious title for this piece as her original inspiration was the Scottish Highlands, and the wildlife and nature in the area. Over time, as the piece developed, she could imagine herself standing on a wooden bridge with the sounds of the water flowing and nature awakening while looking out over the spectacular views of the highland peaks.”
In July 2025 we got together with Hands Up For Trad and invited Su-a and Rhona to our Studio in Craigmillar to record the piece on film. It was a treat to spend a day together as musicians, working on the piece and with plenty of time to get it exactly where Su-a and Rhona wanted it. We deliberately built in enough time to have a good lunch break and that social connection and chance to catch up about all our other projects was so valuable.
The film was shot and edited by Martin Forry, sound recorded and mixed by Ali Gillies. Thanks to Creative Scotland, Drake Music Scotland, Hands Up for Trad for making this possible.
Thanks must go to the wonderful Simon Thoumire for driving this project forward and making things happen, and to Ali Gillies (Drake Music Scotland) for his long time tech and artistic collaboration with Rhona Smith.
Thanks also to the PRS Talent Development Network for supporting our work with disabled artists.
