Scottish Branch

  • Introduction

    The Scottish branch of the Society was formed following two inaugural meetings, held in May 1997 in Edinburgh and Glasgow. A steering committee was appointed and first met in August 1997. The first full meeting took place on 4 October 1997 at Newbattle Abbey near Edinburgh, followed by a second meeting at 23 November 1997 at Jurys Glasgow Hotel.


    The branch is now firmly established with 84 members and is still attracting new members regularly. Most meetings comprise a talk by a guest speaker concluding with live music. It is a very friendly branch and we welcome guests to all our meetings.

    All meetings will be held at St. Mark's Unitarian Church and is just behind the Usher Hall in Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, very near to the multi-story car park, so parking is no problem. The meetings normally run from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday or Sunday


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    Programme for 2012

    Sunday 22nd January 2012
    This is our AGM meeting with business taking only 30-45 minutes or so. Prior to this we welcome Tom Kelly to give us an audio-visual presentation entitled “The Soul of Elgar’s Violin Concerto” in which Tom explores and compares the whole range of recent performances, with pictures and recorded excerpts. The talk will also include live music from Leon Coates and Daphne Godson who will perform the slow movement of the Elgar Violin Concerto on violin and piano.


    Sunday 1st April 2012
    A musical treat is in store for a whole afternoon of LIVE music from Alastair Savage, Cameron Murdoch and several members of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. These musical friends have given us wonderful “mini-concerts” in the past, but this time there will be several extra players to extend the range and content of music played so that the music will fill the afternoon, along with our usual home baking and some wine at a post-concert reception! A “not to be missed” afternoon….with pieces such as the Elgar's String Quartet and Elgar’s Piano Quintet.


    Sunday 6th May 2012
    We welcome Paul Spicer who will give us an audio-visual presentation entitled “There are Druids on the Malverns! – The defeat of an English hero in Elgar’s Caractacus”. Paul has given this excellent talk recently at the Three Choirs Festival and it comes highly recommended by all those who heard it! The meeting also includes LIVE music from Judith Gardner-Jones and Margaret Donaldson … (Maureen to complete)


    Saturday 16th June 2012
    Professor Paul Banks is our speaker today, and he will give us a fascinating audio-visual presentation on “Elgar and the Business of Music”, exploring and explaining how Elgar made a living (or not!!) from composition and conducting … something we may not have considered in the past! We again have wonderful LIVE music to complete the programme with our Branch Patron, Neil Mantle and his Trio …. (Maureen to complete)


    Saturday 29 September 2012
    Our speaker today is our Branch Chairman, Paul Bassett, who will give his take on the real enigma of Elgar’s Enigma Variations in his audio visual presentation, “Elgar’s Variations – an Enigma?” The work will be examined with recorded excerpts and photographs followed by a possible explanation of the meaning of the “Enigma”. After the talk we will be treated to a feast of LIVE music when Ian Farrington will play his own piano transcription of “Elgar’s Enigma Variations” and we look forward, very much, to hearing his playing.


    Sunday 25th November 2012
    Our final meeting of the year brings us a wonderful presentation from Peter Medhurst. His presentation, “The Songs of Elgar”, includes pictures and recorded music, and Peter sings some of Elgar’s songs, accompanying himself on the piano. He gave this talk, in a shortened version, a couple of years ago at a Society AGM in Worcester, to much audience acclaim. A great conclusion to the year’s programme.
     

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