Talented musicians from the University of Aberdeen will unite with the people of St Andrew’s Cathedral for a unique musical celebration to mark St Andrew’s Day on Wednesday.
On Wednesday (November 30), the Lord Provost John Reynolds will join with music students and members of staff from the University’s School of Education for a musical collaboration focussing on St Margaret and St Andrew, the two Scottish saints whose feast day occur at this time of year.
The event builds upon a highly successful venture last May when a large number of people gathered in the Cathedral to hear and take part in ‘Songs of Ascension’, a sequence of words and music newly composed for Ascension Day.
Under the direction of Dr Paul Mealor, composer and lecturer in music, a number of new compositions will be performed. In addition to new music by Dr Mealor, two student composers have written new pieces for brass, percussion, piano and choir.
The choral pieces are settings of new words specially written for the occasion by Professor Gordon Graham.
“They will be sung by the University Madrigal Choir, whose highly successful European tour last July has won Aberdeen an international reputation in singing, and led to further invitations from abroad,” said Professor Graham.
”Readings, prayers and hymns, with a distinctly Scottish flavour, will be interspersed with the music, including passages from William Laughton Lorimer's celebrated translation of the New Testament into Scots.”
The event, which takes place on Wednesday night at 6.30pm, will last around an hour and is open to all.
Proceeds will be shared between cathedral music and the Soko Fund for the education of women in Malawi.