Dundee Connection? You need a Friends of Wighton CD!

We have news of a new CD!

The Friends of Wighton” limited edition CD is now available! Only 100 copies, each numbered and signed, have been made and there will be no reissues.
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Created to raise funds for conservation work on the eclectic music book collection of the late Sir Jimmy Shand, the CD reflects the maestro’s wide musical interests.
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Scottish music, song and poetry, mainly rarities from the Wighton Collection, was specially recorded in the Wighton Heritage Centre where Ronald Stevenson’s 'Sonata For Harpsichord & Piano', 2nd Movement’ was played on the beautiful Wighton harpsichord by Mark Spalding. Other artists featured include Simon Chadwick, Morag Anne Elder, Katie Grieve, Heelster Gowdie, Ellie MacDonald, Gavin Marwick, Bob Turner, Sheena Wellington, the Wighton Singers and Fiona Wilson.
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The hour-long CD also has tracks generously donated by Phil Cunningham, Karine Polwart, Barbara Dymock and Chris Marra, Frieda Morrison and Helen Forbes with Fon A Bhord.

• Friends of Wighton Wighton Heritage Centre Central Library Dundee DD1 1DB
• www.friendsofwighton.com 
• Facebook http://tinyurl.com/zsetlmn 
• Twitter @FriendsWighton 

Friends of Wighton gratefully acknowledge the support of Leisure and Culture Dundee, TASGADH, Dundee Festival Trust, MMG Archbold, HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND

19th Century Flute Manuscripts: Glasgow and Dundee

The Whittaker Library has recently acquired a small mid-19th century flute manuscript.  Since it originated in Glasgow, we like to think we repatriated it!  Karen has worked out the identity of the original owner/compiler - a big Glasgow name, as it happens - and discovered that the building where he both lived and had his architect's practice, still stands today.  All very exciting - watch this space.  (It isn't even in the catalogue yet, but it soon will be!)

It's particularly exciting because it means we can compare it with James Simpson's three flute manuscripts from Dundee - they're only 15 or so years earlier, but quite different in character.  They've been in the Whittaker Library special collections for some years now.  Read our earlier blog about them here.  Or read Karen's article in the RMA Research Chronicle:-

McAulay, Karen E., Nineteenth-Century Dundonian Flute Manuscripts Found at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle vol.38 (2005) pp.99-141.  (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25099500)

Alumna Robyn Stapleton to sing on Dundee's Frigate Unicorn

Since Robyn is an alumna of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, we thought we'd help promote her forthcoming performance in Dundee:-

Frigate Unicorn, Victoria Dock, Dundee - Robyn Stapleton

Scotland’s finest young traditional singer, BBC Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician 2014, Scots Singer of the Year nominee, will be singing on board the Unicorn on Friday 10th July.

Robyn, who hails from Stranraer, is touring Scotland to celebrate her debut album “Fickle Fortune” which was released in May to critical acclaim.

Recent career highlights include being commissioned to record “Coming Thro The Rye” for Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, and performances at the Trad Music Awards and, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, at Proms in the Park!

Robyn is no stranger to Dundee having given two recitals at the Wighton Heritage Centre. Sheena Wellington, who tutored Robyn during her honours year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said of her former student:-

‘Robyn was gifted with a beautiful voice, warm, rich, flexible and distinctive. Couple this with a true love and respect for her material and the ability to engage an audience anywhere from a care home to a Prom concert hall and you have a very special singer indeed.’

Robyn will be accompanied by band members Kristan Harvey of Blazin Fiddles (Young Traditional Musician 2011), David McNee in guitar and bouzouki and Alistair Iain Paterson on piano and harmonium (Young Traditional Musician Finalist 2014).

• Doors open at 6:15 for performance at 7:00pm
• Tickets £9 (£7 concession) 
• Online booking: https://www.gammabookings.com/FrigateUnicorn/
• Or available at the door.

Friends of Wighton, Wighton Heritage Centre
Central Library, Wellgate
Dundee DD1 1DB

www.friendsofwighton.com

Friends of Wighton gratefully acknowledge the support of Leisure & Communities Dundee, MMG Archbold, Chartered Accountants and The Weavers Café, Dundee Central Library

Friends of Wighton

Andrew Wighton: Scottish music books

Do you know about the Wighton Centre, Dundee Central Library's historic Scottish music book collection?

Andrew Wighton collected Scottish music books in the mid-19th century, and gifted his collection to the City of Dundee.  A specially dedicated Centre has recently been built to house his music and promote Scottish music events.

The Friends of Wighton support the Centre.  Find out more here. 

(There is also a Wighton Database; but sadly, it's not up and running just now. Watch this space - 'Whittaker' will let you know if (when) it is resurrected.  It was a really, REALLY useful resource, so hopefully it won't be down for long.)

Musical limericks no.10 (GO VOCAL)

It's the singers' turn ...

The Highs

A cute little Scottish soprano

First encountered her spouse in Milano,

So they cancelled her flight

And were up half the night

Singing amorous songs at the piano.

And the Lows

The contralto said "Bonnie Dundee"

Would suit her range better in C;

But when asked to transpose,

Her accompanist froze;

checked his diary, and croaked, "I'm not free!"

Schwarzkopf (shampoo) anyone?

A vain, image-conscious young tenor

Said hair products packaged for men, or

For family use

Using fruit-fragranced juice

Were not nearly as luscious as henna.

From the valleys

A baritone lad from Caerphilly

Said Strauss operette were silly;

A La Scala role

Was his ultimate goal,

Via Glyndebourne or first, Piccadilly.

 

Musical Limericks no.1 (flute, oboe, clarinet)
Musical Limericks no.2 (bassoon)
Musical Limericks no.3 (trumpet, horn)
Musical Limericks no.4 (Piper, by James Beaton)
Musical Limericks no.5 (tuba, trombone)
Musical Limericks no.6 (saxophone)
Musical Limericks no.7 (violin, viola)
Musical Limericks no.8 (cello, double bass, timpani)
Musical Limericks no.9 (percussion)
Musical Limericks no.10 (singers)

James Simpson of Dundee - Flute Manuscripts

On this day ...

ANNIVERSARY - Today, 23 August, James Simpson married Cecilia Elder in Dundee in 1834. 

The three precious flute manuscripts that he'd begun compiling in 1828-1830 went with him to their first home. Who knows, maybe he went on adding to them. 

RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) has these MSS in Special Collections.  Music and Academic Services Librarian Karen McAulay has indexed and published articles on them.Find out more about the manuscripts here. 

• See also posting on RILM's Bibliolore blog, 11th September 2011.