Bachtrack: Free Opera & Concert Streaming

Bachtrack are curating a list of performances that can be streamed online from opera houses and concert halls. So check out what Bachtrack has to offer by clicking the link below. During the coronavirus lockdown period you can get free access to many operas from OperaVision via Backtrack.  Concert performances come from 29 partners and 17 countries. 

Click here to access

Berlin Philharmoniker Free Access to Archive

Berlin Philharmoniker

During the coronavirus lockdown period the Berlin Philharmoniker has given 30 days of free access to the Digital Concert Hall with over 600 orchestral concerts, bonus videos and documentaries.

Click HERE to Access Via Library Online Music Resources

Click here to access Berlin Philharmoniker Website

Delicious Concerts, Performances, Documentaries and more, from Medici TV

http://www.medici.tv/

We're delighted to say that we now have Medici TV for all of our staff and students, who can

access it at the RCS and at home (click here for instructions)

Medici is a streaming service that covers concerts and archived historical concerts, operas, ballets, documentaries, artist portraits, educational programs and master classes. There is so much to get your teeth into!
 
The events that are broadcast live are from venues such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Concertgebouw, Teatro alla Scala, Berliner Philharmonie, Salle Pleyel, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Verbier Festival and Salzburger Festspiele.

It is the largest on-demand library of classical music, which features over 1,800 programs (3,000 original works), including:-

• concerts and archived historical concerts
• operas
• ballets
• documentaries, artist portraits and educational programs
• master classes

Sir James MacMillan Month in Glasgow

This coming March is Sir James MacMillan month in Glasgow. Nine concerts will take place to celebrate the long association with MacMillan and the city which will include students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. More information about the concerts and MacMillan is available from Boosey and Hawkes news page. The Whittaker Library has an array of material by MacMillan which you can find here. So why not start having a look in preparation for March!

Whitaker Library Trial of Medici TV

We currently have a trial of Medici TV for all of our staff and students.

Medici is a streaming service that covers concerts and archived historical concerts, operas, ballets, documentaries, artist portraits, educational programs and master classes. There is so much to get your teeth into!

The events that are broadcast live are from venues such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Concertgebouw, Teatro alla Scala, Berliner Philharmonie, Salle Pleyel, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Verbier Festival and Salzburger Festspiele.

You can access this resource at the RCS as well as at home and it is available on all digital devices including tablets and smartphones (iOS and Android).

The trial ends on the 6^th of February so please make the most of it and let the Whittaker Library know what you think!

Echoes and Traces - New Compositions Promoted by Creative Scotland

A series of concerts this very week looks very exciting indeed.  Quoting from Creative Scotland, we learn ...

Echoes and Traces is a world premiere of eight new choral works written by eight Scottish composers, developed in response to Nobilis Humilis a 900 year old plain song fragment from Orkney that celebrates St Magnus.World-renowned choral group Cappella Nova will perform the compositions across seven concerts from Wednesday 31 August to Thursday 8 September in some of Scotland’s most stunning historic venues and sites ... read the whole posting here.

Whittaker and Northumbrian Minstrelsy

In which the 'real' Whittaker goes Back to his Roots

We've blogged about William Gillies Whittaker before - how he was the first joint Professor of Music at the University of Glasgow, and Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. But while we're proudly claiming him as our own, let's not forget he was originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, and something of an authority on Northumbrian minstrelsy.

A 1965 edition of a book on the subject (the much earlier first edition of Northumbrian Minstrelsy was published in 1882) - cites Whittaker's opinions of it. Northumbrian Minstrelsy, ed. J. Collingwood Bruce and John Stokoe, 1882, (and 1965 foreword by A. L. Lloyd), can be read online in pdf here.

Fast forward to the present.   There's a Northumbrian Minstrelsy concert at The Sage, Gateshead, on Sunday 23 June 2013.  Details here.  It's organised by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle.  The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland notified its members in a recent newsletter.  'Whittaker' (latter-day blogger on behalf of the Whittaker Library) decided to connect the circle by attending the concert.  'He' can hardly contain his excitement, and his minstrel jacket will undoubtedly get an airing.

Minstrels are evidently very much alive and well.  (Not that readers of this blog need any reminding of that fact!)

• Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
• Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 

Support Young Jazz Musicians - Concert Weds 12th June

Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra had their main concert last night, but the SYJO JAZZ SCHOOL has their concert next Wednesday.

Ramshorn Theatre, Wednesday, June 12th, 7p.m. SYJO Jazzschool

SYJO’s weekly Jazzschool brings together some of the most talented young musicians from across the West of Scotland. 2013 has been an exceptional year with several from the group now moving into full time music studies and SYJO’s advanced bands. Hear them here first, as the students end the year on a high note at the Ramshorn.

And then of course there's Glasgow's Jazz Festival, with an SYJO concert on 27th June.


Events page

You're looking at tomorrow's stars and young professionals!

Mr Dickie and PGS Arts

 http://www.pgsarts.co.uk/ 

Expressive Arts at Paisley Grammar School

'Whittaker' attended an enjoyable concert at Paisley Abbey this evening.   Conducted by the irrepressible Mr Dickie and his colleagues in the music department, a whole variety of ensembles and bands strutted their stuff, to an appreciative audience of families and friends.

Mr Dickie was keen to remind the audience that the Expressive Arts have their own website.  Indeed, he repeated 'http://www.pgsarts.co.uk/' several times to ensure that we wouldn't forget.

'Whittaker' remembers when Mr Dickie was but a youth at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - well, it was the RSAMD in those days, of course.  But hasn't he done well?  He's quite a compere, too.

Because Mr Dickie thanked everyone else, 'Whittaker' is taking it upon 'himself' to thank Mr Dickie.  And to share that website.  Here it is again - http://www.pgsarts.co.uk/.

Whittaker doesn't indulge in favouritism.  If there are music teachers 'out there' who are alumni of RSAMD/the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and would like to share what they've been up to since leaving the college, please do get in touch!  We could even have a regular series of 'Where are they now?'

NYOS Concerts - and an intriguing tune

From the NYOS website, with due acknowledgment

The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland is about to begin its annual summer tour.  Details here.

A highlight of the programme will be Nicola Benedetti playing the Bruch Fantasia on Scottish Folksongs. 

This favourite piece includes a tune called 'I'm a' doun for lack of Johnnie'.  The tune first appeared in a mid-19th century Scottish songbook called Songs of Scotland.  The commentary tells us it was a Highland melody, probably not very old, found and arranged by Finlay Dun.  It had never been published before.

Does this mean Bruch had a copy of Songs of Scotland? Or did someone else pass the tune on to him? We can only speculate.

The Whittaker Library at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is glad they've got copies of the songbook, in any case! 

Vol.1, Songs of Scotland: Finlay Dun's setting

The Songs of Scotland adapted to their appropriate Melodies, arranged with Pianoforte Accompaniments by G. F. Graham, T. M. Mudie, J. T. Surenne, H. E. Dibdin, Finlay Dun with historical, biographical, and critical notices by G. F. Graham, etc ... See catalogue entry ...

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Our Performance Librarian, Lucy Robertson, flew to New Orleans (Lucy in the sky) for an orchestral librarians' conference, yesterday.  We're waiting to hear news not only from the conference, but also about any concerts she attends (with diamonds), whilst she's in Jazz City.  And here's her blog.

Visiting the London Olympics?

• The Whittaker Library has the London 2012 Olympic Games Songbook! (Naturally) - find it here.
• Many cultural events can be found at the London 2012 Festival.  Click here for more...
• Since you probably clicked on this, expecting to find a link to the London Olympics, here it is:-

http://www.london2012.com/

 

When the Jubilee’s over and done,

The next bit of fun is the run

Of the athletes with flames

For the forthcoming games,

And we’re hoping we’ll then see some sun!

Phoenix Choir Concert in Newton Mearns Glasgow

Conducted by the Royal Conservatoire's own Marilyn Smith,

A Gala Concert by the Phoenix Choir

 To celebrate the

Diamond Jubilee of the Choir

in

Broom Parish Church,

Mearns Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow

Saturday 24^th March 2012 at 7.30pm

• Sponsored by Co-operative Funeralcare
• Tickets £10 (unreserved) to include Interval wine and shortbread
• Tickets available from the Church Office or at the door on the evening.

Scottish Charity SC003290

EDINBURGH CONCERT FOR BRÌDE: Clàrsach, Vocal, Triplepipe & Bagpipe

 Early Celtic Music in Celebration of Candlemas

Clàrsach, Vocal, Triplepipe and Bagpipe Music
 from Scotland, Ireland and Wales
featuring

.

Ann Heymann, Barnaby Brown andTalitha MacKenzie

Saturday 11 February 2012

Doors Open 7.30 PM, Concert begins 8 PM
Columcille Centre
2 Newbattle Terrace, Morningside, Edinburgh EH10 4RT
(Next to the Dominion Cinema)

Not only, but also ...

Clàrsach Workshop with Ann Heymann

.

Sunday 12 February 1-5 PM

Tea, Coffee and Homebaking provided by The Monsoon Mountains Tea Company

Concert Tickets: £10/£8 ~ Workshop Tickets: £10/£8
Combined Weekend Ticket: £15/£12

For more information: 0131 446 0723 ~ http://www.annheymann.com

Emerging Young Artists: Monday Platform at Wigmore Hall, London

Monday Platform Programme available now.

ROSL (Royal Overseas League) Prizewinners Concert on Monday 16th January 2012 in the Wigmore Hall's Monday Platform series of concerts.

Concert Programmes - valuable resource

If you'd like to find out the performance history of a certain piece of music - or perhaps find out about a performer or composer - this new database will be just what you're looking for. It indexes the programmes from 12,000 international venues from 1690 to the present, covering 25,000 personal and corporate names. Concert Programmes database - click here.