Book-Launch at Strathearn Artspace (Crieff, Perthshire)

http://www.strathearnartspace.co.uk/  

"Welcome to Strathearn Artspace, now based at the former public library on Comrie Street in Crieff, Perthshire. This is a community based Arts and leisure project and is a registered charity, aiming to progress Arts education and appreciation within the community of Strathearn."

Friday 21 February, 7.30 pm - Grace Note Publications launch another book - 'Recollections of an Argyllshire Drover' and other West Highland Chronicles, by Eric R. Cregeen.  The late Eric Cregeen recorded the last drover (born in 1869!), who walked cattle to Crieff.

Our thanks to Margaret Bennett, our resident ethnomusicologist, for alerting us to this event.

Death of Poet Lillias Scott Forbes

Followers of this blog will recall that Lillias Scott Forbes was to have appeared at an evening poetry reading in her honour, at the Whittaker Library in June this year.  Sadly, indisposition prevented her appearance, but the audience still heard some of her poems, as well as music by her husband Erik Chisholm and father Francis George Scott, and poetry by Tom Hubbard.

It is with sadness that Whittaker Live notes the recent passing of Lillias Scott Forbes in St Andrews on 2nd October 2013.  The announcement appeared in The Scotsman. on 5th October, and the funeral took place on Friday 11th October. 

Lillias was reportedly delighted that her poetry was given a public reading at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and it is lovely that the event jointly planned with Dr Margaret Bennett gave an old lady such pleasure, even if she was unable to attend in person.

Martyn Bennett Traditional Music Prize

Martyn Bennett was a student at the RSAMD, and his mother, Margaret Bennett, is on our teaching staff for the Scottish Music course.  We're delighted to share details of this prize with you.

All entries must be received by 5pm, Mon 12 August 2013

http://themartynbennettprize.com/

From the website:- 

"The Queen’s Hall and the Traditional Music Forum are inviting submissions for a compositional prize for new work that takes its inspiration from Scottish traditional music. Applications are open to all composers and musicians aged 16+ based in Scotland whose work and practice evidences the influence of Scottish traditional music.

The submitted piece should be between five and ten minutes long and not previously performed in public in either informal or formal settings. The work should have its roots in Scottish traditional music and look outward to a connected world. The competition is only open to instrumental music; songs with lyrics will not be considered, but the use of vocal elements (eg chanting) is allowed."
 

Library Forthcoming Events

Two dates for your diary!

We have two more events coming up in the Whittaker Library. 

Tuesday 29th January @ 5 pm

On Tuesday 29^th January at 5 pm, folklorist Margaret Bennett will be giving an illustrated talk about Celtic music in Newfoundland.  There's always a good turn-out, and a good time is had by all.  Come and join in!

Friday 26th April @ 4 pm

Looking ahead, Music and Academic Services Librarian Karen McAulay’s book, Our Ancient National Airs: Scottish song-collecting from the Enlightenment to the Romantic Era will be launched at an illustrated talk in the Whittaker Library on Friday 26^th April at 4 pm. Musicians have been enlisted.  It will be loud.  And she’s still looking for a sax quartet to play some of the louder musical examples … volunteers, please?

Celebrating our Irish Connections

Tomorrow, Tuesday 22nd January, the Whittaker Library is hosting an event by Dr Margaret Bennett and Kath Hardie, with extra input by two of our Honours Year Scottish Music students, Robyn Stapelton and Ainsley Hamilton.

It's at 5 pm in the Whittaker Library, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.  Come along!

• More on Margaret's website.
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland website

BBC podcast: ethnomusicologist, Dr Margaret Bennett

Our own ethnomusicologist, Dr Margaret Bennett, is the subject of a recent BBC podcast. View here.

Scottish folklorist Margaret Bennett makes film about Flora McCulloch

Commemorating Flora McCulloch

A Norman Maclean Galloway film preserves Scots folklore, assisted by one of RSAMD's folklorists, Margaret Bennett.

RSAMD staff and students were featured on the BBC this week talking about a Scottish Film currently in production starring Dr Margaret Bennett, acting graduate Andrew Rothney and first year actor Scarlett Mack.

BBC Link  (BBC News Scotland audio recording, 14th June 2011).