Marwood will play the solo part in John Woolrich's "Ulysses Awakes", a richly sensuous reflection on the music of the 17th century Italian composer Monteverdi, whose music also features in the concert.

Jonathan Morton, the leader and artistic director of the Ensemble, has titled the programme "Darkness and Light". He pairs Woolrich's piece with instrumental versions of "Two Madrigals" by Monteverdi. Benjamin Britten's "Simple Sym-phony" and "Three Divertimenti" are also featured, while Gustav Mahler's famous arrangement for string orchestra of Schubert's great string quartet "Death and the Maiden" will make a wonderful finale.

"Ulysses Awakes" was written in 1989, and works elements of Monteverdi's music into Woolrich's own creative musical textures. The Ensemble performed it as part of their Highlands and Islands tour in 2006 and subsequently at Aldeburgh, but this will be its first outing in Inverness.

"It's a lovely piece, actually," Marwood insisted. "It's extremely rhapsodic — it's basi-cally a kind of song over a very held texture in the strings, with what would be the vocal line given to the viola. It is very carefully structured and textured, but within that structure the solo line has a certain freedom.

"I remember how lovely it felt doing it four or five times in succession last year and having that leeway to do it a little bit different each time, and to respond to the specific space that we were playing in.

"It should be really nice doing it by candlelight in the church, but I have to say I'm hoping it won't be as cold as Inverness Cathedral!"

Marwood is a familiar figure in the Ensemble's regular line-up and admits that she very much enjoys being a part of the 12-strong string group.

"Musically it has a wonderful combination of a real chamber music feel with the discipline of being part of a bigger group. There is also a very special atmosphere and sense of support and camaraderie within the group, and that doesn't always happen," she said.

Viola player Catherine Marwood is going solo.

While some viola players move to their instrument from violin, Marwood's own path was determined at the outset on pragmatic grounds by her practical mother.

"My sister was learning violin at the time, and my mum read an article that said there were lots of opportunities for viola players and she said, right, you can learn viola," Marwood revealed. "I don't suppose I even really knew what it was at that stage, but for me there is something very special and characterful about the sound of viola. I have never played violin, so I can truthfully say I'm not a failed violin player!

"Funnily enough, I remember adjudicating at the Inverness Music Festival one year and they do lots of string tuition in the schools. I asked how they chose who would play viola and they said they looked for someone who was slightly eccentric, which I thought was rather fun."

All three of her siblings are also musicians, and they formed a quartet for a time, but developing careers and young families eventually made it impractical to continue.

"It was very special for all of us while it lasted and it was very sad having to disband," Marwood said. "However, we are planning a reunion for my dad's 90th birthday, and we'll do the Mozart 'Oboe Concerto' for him."

* The Scottish Ense-mble's "Darkness and Light" is at Ness Bank Church on Thursday.

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