Facebook has just reminded me that it’s thirteen years since the book launch of my first monograph. Surely I should celebrate somehow? Should I bake it a cake? (Any excuse for a cake!)
Saxophones, Singing and Harp Strings
The launch had a saxophone ensemble playing arrangements of songs that Alexander Campbell had collected for his two Albyn’s Anthology volumes (1816, 1818). Robyn Stapleton sang with a piano trio. And my friend clarsach player Karen Marshalsay played a tune she had written for me. It was a great celebration, and another milestone for me, the woman who never submitted her first doctoral thesis in the mid 1980s, but had completed another one a quarter of a century later.
We had another no less triumphant, but smaller scholarly launch at the 2013 Musica Scotica conference.
I remain totally convinced that my second research career has been better in every respect than the first abortive attempt. Different subject. A different environment. Much more impact. And, with no offence to anyone working on mediaeval music, significantly more useful in the librarianship career I had dedicated myself to. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland does offer a traditional music degree, so historical Scottish song collections are of some interest, whilst I suspect fewer of our undergraduates would have been excited by cantus firmus treatment in 15th century polyphony!
My research changed me, and changed my subsequent career. So yes, I do need to celebrate Our Ancient National Airs‘ thirteenth birthday.
Before I get started on the first chapter of my next, third book.
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 