Tuesday 29 September 2009

Pluscarden Abbey Sacred Music Symposium 2009

Fr. Abbot's Welcome
Fr. Hugh Gilbert, Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey, opens the Symposium to a very large number of attendees averaging approximately 100 daily during the three day event. With him on the podium is Fr. Benedict (on the right) and Br. Michael.

Many congratulations to them in particular and the Pluscarden Community in general for what proved to be a very high quality symposium with excellent speakers demonstrating the rich quality of Sacred Music in Scotland during the last millenium and continuing today.

Plusacrden Abbey has posted a precis of this wonderful event, including the three day programme, and this can be seen HERE on the Pluscarden Abbey website.

Dr. Jamie Reid-Baxter
A wonderful, highly knowledgeable and colourful speaker. An excellent choice to start the symposium. His theme was "The Sacred Music of Robert Carver".
Later that evening Dr. Reid-Baxter assisted the Musick Fyne Choir in their performance of Carver's "Mass for St Michael".


Dr. James MacMillan CBE talks with Fr. Benedict OSB
The world renown Scottish composer Dr. MacMillan, on the right, presented a paper on "The Spirit of the Liturgy: Reform of the Reform."

Musick Fyne Soloists accompanied by Mediaeval Bray Harp
During the first evening's concert the Scottish Choral group Musick Fyne sang "A Mass for St Michael", a sumptuous ten part Mass by the Scottish composer Robert Calvert (c1487-1568). This Mass was first sung in the Scottish Chapel Royal in 1513.

Mr Tim Duguid, Doctoral Student, Edinburgh University
Tim gave an inspiring talk on Early Scots Metrical Psalm Singing. His inate humour and knowledge of his subject ensured an attentive audience and well received presentation.

Mmm. That sounds interesting!

Musicologists, liturgists, composer and just plain honest folk attentively listening to excellent presentations.

Mrs Margaret Stewart
Mrs Margaret Stewart, a leading exponent in the Gaelic singing of the Psalms.
The psalms are led by a precentor (who is permitted to choose whichever pitch he feels comfortable in) with the congregation responding. This style of psalmody has been a cornerstone in the Highlands and Islands, particularly within the Gaelic speaking communities since the Reformation.

To view all pictures in this set please click HERE