My research lecture at Edinburgh University went well last week (though I say it myself!) – I was delighted to have received such a warm reception. Here’s my powerpoint, also uploaded to the Calendar tab of this blog. It was good to have the opportunity to give a talk focusing on a collection (well, what’s left of the legal deposit music!) that hasn’t had a great deal of exposure before, and I was absolutely delighted to make the acquaintance of a former Edinburgh academic who is probably the only person to have investigated Edinburgh’s legal deposit music in a systematic way. Apart, of course, from Hans Gal’s bibliographic efforts, which noted some but not all of the Reid Music Library’s contents dating pre-1850. I’m about to start reading some notes that I was generously given after my lecture – it’s a great privilege to be given them.
Whilst St Andrews has its magnificent collection and all the related documentation and archival material, I’m keen to stress that Edinburgh has different strengths: not nearly as much legal deposit music, but an entire historical musical instrument collection, and the wonderful St Cecilia’s Hall which not only exhibits them, but also offers unique performance spaces. Nothing would make me happier than to learn that students were inspired to explore the music on the historical instruments! Early printed music is fascinating in musicological terms, but bringing it back to life in terms of sound is something special – as the Sound Heritage network has been keen to demonstrate in many wonderful ways.
Next stop, meetings in Dublin and London – and then the EFDSS conference. Better get writing again!
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 