Today, I attended the first meeting of a new research network – the Cultural History of Glasgow Network, organised jointly between the Open University in Scotland, and Glasgow City Archives, and funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. It was hosted by the Mitchell Library, Glasgow’s impressive flagship central public library. It’s always interesting to be involved with a new collaboration introducing a different mix of people, and this one’s particularly interesting being so close to home, as it were!
As the session ended, I pulled on my coat and headed back to the Conservatoire for a concert organised by another of the networks I’ve been involved with – the Romantic National Song Network, led this time by Dr Kirsteen McCue of the University of Glasgow, but drawing performers from British and Irish music colleges. Again, it was funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Here, we heard national songs largely from the Romantic era and slightly earlier – British, English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh songs were all represented, introduced by experts, and performed to an exceptionally high standard. I’m not going to attempt to review the event – I’m too close to all involved to be considered an impartial witness! But it was great, and I am proud to have been involved with the network. More of my own reactions will appear on the RNSN website in due course, so watch this space!
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 