John Purser

John Purser's major work encompasses the whole of Scotland's music, from the third millennium BC to the present day. Describing both classical and traditional music, Scotland's Music pursues the fascinating relationship between them through the centuries and shows how they illuminate Scottish history and culture. The book is generously illustrated and, with over 200 music examples, provides a unique resource. Early Celtic plainchant, ballads in Scots and Gaelic, Renaissance masterpieces by Carver and others, rare music for lutes and virginals, and many under-appreciated and beautiful works by composers such as John Clerk of Penicuik, James Oswald, the Earl of Kellie and John Thomson are all discussed. Scotland's Music's range is wide, and it concludes with a survey of the diverse contemporary music of today, from operatic and symphonic to Gaelic, folk and pop. Scotland's Music is a tremendously entertaining and stimulating book. This new edition builds on its award-winning predecessor, substantially updated and taking account of new discoveries and research. It has both a general and a scholarly appeal, not only in Scotland but worldwide; it is an all-embracing account of one of Europe's most remarkable musical cultures.

A History of the Traditional and Classical Music of Scotland from Early Times to the Present Day

Scotland's Music

Alan Riach

Alexander Moffatt

A panorama of ideas about nationality and culture, Arts and the Nation arose from the conviction that Scotland can never be really democratic until it gives the arts the priority of place and attention they demand. This book is a fresh take on subjects new and old, with multifaceted ideas of nationality and culture. Those featured include: William Dunbar, Duncan Ban MacIntyre and Elizabeth Melville are read alongside international authors such as Wole Soyinka and Edward Dorn. J.D. Fergusson, Joan Eardley and John Bellany are considered with American Alice Neel and the art of the ancient Celts. Composers like John Blackwood McEwen, Cecil Coles and Helen Hopekirk are introduced, amongst discussions of education, politics, social priorities, the mass media and different genres of writing. What was the real reason Robert Louis Stevenson dedicated his dark masterpiece to his cousin Katharine de Mattos? Why was Katharine’s own tale of duality published under a pseudonym? When Fanny Stevenson ‘stole’ another story idea from Katharine, why did RLS explode with Hydelike rage at the cousin for whom he had once been ‘the one that loves you – Jekyll, and not Hyde’? Featuring the full text of Katharine’s tale of duality, Fanny’s stolen story and another tale revealing Katharine’s grief at losing her cousin’s love forever, Mrs Jekyll & Cousin Hyde sheds new light on one of the greatest Victorian authors.

John Purser

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