A multimedia musical crossover project that began three years ago and covers three continents can now be viewed in a video that includes footage from the premiere of the production, staged in March at the University of Delaware.

Jennifer M. Barker, a composer and professor of music at UD, embarked on the project with her husband, international cameraman and editor John Anthony Palmer, and her colleague Xiang Gao, Trustees Distinguished Professor of Music. Musicians performing in the March 12 production included several University students and alumni.

The premiere by the East-West ensemble 6ixwire was part of UD’s Master Players Concert Series and followed what Barker described as “three continents and thousands of work hours” devoted to the project.

Titled Tìrean cèin in Scottish Gaelic, which translates as Distant Shores, the storyline follows the journey of a sailor, who also is a fiddler, in olden times from Scotland to China.

Barker said her original dream was to combine the talents of her sister-in-law, 2010 Scottish Gaelic Singer of the Year Eilidh Mackenzie, with those of 6ixwire, whose members are Gao and Cathy Yang. She wrote the music in the style of traditional Scottish waulking songs, hornpipes, reels and southern Chinese folk music.

UD students and alumni who participated in the project included flautist Jenna Knaster, cellists César Colmenares and Adam Collins,  guitarist Christiaan Clark and music programmer Joshua Green.

The Celtic drummer featured in the production, Catherine Doersch, is also one of Barker’s former students, from her years teaching at Christopher Newport University in Virginia.

In addition to filming abroad, Barker said, she and Palmer were fortunate to be granted permission to film 6ixwire on the grounds of Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington.

“The result is a musical/visual feast from Scotland, China and our very own Delaware,” she said.