Leng Medal Update No.9: A Dundee Get-Together

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay
Wellgate Shopping Centre, home of Dundee Central Library

I’m writing an article (publication destination yet to be confirmed) – this was one of my planned outputs from my oral history interviews gathering Dundonian Leng Medal memories. And in due course, I want to write my book chapter, but I’ll get on with the article first! One thing at a time.

Tuesday 10th November, Wighton Centre, Dundee Central Library, 5.30-7 pm.

But my most pressing concern is organising a get-together for any of my interviewees who are free to meet up in person and share a few songs together – not to mention reminiscing about their participation in the Leng Medal competitions. This Leng Medal for Scots Song is literally woven into the fabric of Dundee, and where better place to hold it than the Wighton Centre in Dundee’s Central Library? Of course there will be singing!

Book your Place

Maybe you took part in the Leng Silver and Gold Medal competitions? Fond memories? Or know people who have a medal?

It’ll be on Tuesday 10th November from 5.30-7 pm. You do need to book admission, using this EventBrite link, as seats are limited and we can’t overcrowd the space!!

A Bit of Context!

IASH, University of Edinburgh

Last year, I had a research fellowship at IASH, the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities, at the University of Edinburgh. I was researching the educational music publications of Edinburgh publisher Thomas Nelson, and in particular, the four wee Nelson Scots Song Books.

Research & Engagement, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS)

I plan to write a book about my findings – focusing on the importance of networking between all the people involved – and one chapter is going to be dedicated to the Nelson Scots Song Books. These books were compiled by two local music advisors, one of whom was Dundee’s James Easson, and he encouraged local schools to use the song books for their participation in the Leng Medal Scots Song competitions. This competition has been so wildly successful and popular, that I decided to conduct oral history interviews with people who participated. Another chapter of my proposed book will therefore be dedicated to their Leng Medal memories. It’s not that common for a quartet of tiny song books to have had such a significant role in local music-making. This research has been sponsored by an Athenaeum Award from my employer, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements are therefore due both to IASH at the University of Edinburgh, and to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Research and Engagement department. A big thank you also goes to the participants in my research study, and to the Local History department of Dundee Central Library.

Silver and Gold: Leng Medal Memories

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay
A Silver Leng Medal for Scots song singing

Do you have schooldays memories of taking part in the Dundee-based Leng Medal Scots song singing competitions?  Perhaps you were a proud prize-winner of a Silver or Gold Leng Medal? 

Maybe you didn’t actually win, but the memories are still vivid? You might remember the song you chose, or which song book you sang from? Or you helped someone else polish up their performance?

Maybe you’ve never stopped singing Scottish songs?

Newspaper engraving of Sir John Leng (Illustrated London News, Saturday 10 June 1983)
Sir John Leng: Dundee benefactor

I’m on the staff of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as a postdoctoral research fellow, researching Scottish music.  Whilst investigating an old Scottish song book aimed at school pupils in the post-war era, I became fascinated by the initiative of Sir John Leng (1828-1906), who endowed the singing prize 125 years ago. He died 120 years ago, but his singing competition is still live and kicking all these years later.  Encouraging kids to sing Scottish songs was obviously a good thing!

Would you like to help me?  If so, I’d be very grateful if you could fill in a very short questionnaire, and I’ll get back in touch as soon as I can to arrange an interview with anyone who has a story to tell!

I decided to find out more, and I’m embarking on a project to talk to as many Leng medallists, entrants, teachers or adjudicators as possible.  The Sir John Leng Trust endorses this research, and is looking forward to hearing what I uncover. 

My research is made possible with the support of an Athenaeum Award from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE