Happy Birthday, Sir!
It's Walter Scott's birthday today - he was born 15 August 1771 in Edinburgh.
Yes, this is a performing arts blog. And Sir Walter Scott was a novelist, true. But he was also a ballad-collector (and writer), and despite protesting that he wasn't musical, he had a keen interest in Scottish and Borders folk-music.
Why else should musicians care? Well, here are a few reasons!
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| From Britainexpress.com - with thanks |
- He effectively created the image of Scotland that has drawn tourists and visitors ever since.
- His novels provided inspiration for any number of operatic and other pieces of classical music.
- He encouraged impoverished professional musicians like Alexander Campbell (of Albyn's Anthology fame) - and wealthy amateurs like the Maclean-Clephane sisters of Torloisk, on the Isle of Mull, not to mention his own daughter.
- He published the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and one edition had some tunes at the back.
- He was friendly with James Hogg, another novelist, songwriter and ballad-collector.
- I searched our library catalogue. The Whittaker Library has plenty concerning Sir Walter Scott and his contribution to our culture. Check the catalogue here!
There - is that enough to encourage you to raise a glass to Sir Walter Scott today?!
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