Marie Stuart Society: Gunsgreen House

 Concert of 16th. century music at Gunsgreen House Eyemouth

Just heard of a concert of 16^th. century music on 26^th. May  at Gunsgreen House in Eyemouth which we would almost certainly have attended but for the fact that it clashes with the Society outing to Dundee.

Posting details as anyone not managing Dundee might just manage down to Eyemouth.

The concert is by Bel Canto, an Edinburgh-based a cappella group who specialise in the performance of choral music from the 15^th and 16^th centuries. In recent years this repertoire has been extended to include music of all periods, including some specially commissioned works. The Group comprises around 12 regular voices although draws on an extensive pool of deputies for the performance of larger scale pieces of music.

 The Group generally performs in historic settings and has performed widely in churches, cathedrals, castles and stately homes throughout Scotland, including an annual series of concerts for the National Trust for Scotland. They also gives recital in the various Galleries of Scotland.  

The group was founded by the current Director, David Buchanan-Cook, in 1990. He is also a composer of choral music and the premier of his Missa Brevis was performed by Bel Canto in St Aloysius Church, Glasgow in 2005.

The recital will consist of a selection of English Elizabethan madrigals on the theme of Fair Ladies and sundry winged creatures. The music will be interspersed with readings and refreshments will be served at the interval.

Tickets are priced at £15 which includes a glass of prosecco and nibbles at the interval.

To book contact Gunsgreen  or telephone 018907 52062

Marianne and I are voluntary guides at Gunsgreen House (usually on a Monday morning) and while nothing to do with Mary we thoroughly recommend a visit if in this part of the world. Designed by John Adam for a master smuggler this recently restored house has so much of historic interest and so many secrets to reveal.

Ronald

Dorothy Dunnett Society

Received today copy of a recent edition of the magazine “Whispering Gallery” which is a publication of the
Dorothy Dunnett Society.

This is not a magazine which I am familiar with, not indeed with the Society which exists to promote an interest in the works of author Dorothy Dunnett and the period in which they are set. Society member Ann McMillan is their Chairman.

I was very impressed indeed with the Magazine both the content and the quality.

Much of historic interest in the content including a most interesting and detailed article on the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh -a number of us visited and enjoyed a guided tour of the battlefield site only last September see-

Although no connection with Mary or her period another very interesting article written by Ann on “St. Ninian and the West Pilgrims’ Way”.

A Society which looks in many ways similar to our own - even to the extent that they will be holding their annual Gathering in Edinburgh on the same day as ourselves. Theirs however will extend over the whole week-end taking in talks on recent discoveries at Stirling Castle and a visit to the Castle and the Wallace Monument.

I have put up a link on our website.

Ronald