Another String to her Bow: EIS Journal Interviews Nicola Benedetti

The December Scottish Educational Journal features an interview with violinist Nicola Benedetti about her work supporting music in schools.

Find it on page 14 of this electronic journal, HERE.

Also visit the BBC Two Ten Pieces Project:-

"Ten Pieces aims to inspire a generation of children to get creative with classical music."

NB There's a free copy of the Ten Pieces film, which is available to primary schools while stocks last. Primary school music teachers can email tenpieces@bbc.co.uk with "DVD" in the subject line.

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 ...

Graduation at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

As well as celebrating our fabulous new graduates, the morning graduation conferred honorary doctorates upon violinist Nicola Benedetti, singer Barbara Dickson and choreographer Ashley Page, until recently Artistic Director at Scottish Ballet.  At the afternoon ceremony, we honoured David Hayman and Richard Holloway.

'Whittaker' has been hobnobbing with the Great and the Good, and simultaneously representing Library and Information Services.  We're behind the scenes, but like to think we contributed too!