![]() ![]() The venue, with its distinctive oval concert hall, has had many uses since then, including as a school, a masonic lodge and a dance hall. Eilish McGuinness Chief Executive of the National Heritage Memorial Fund Historic hall ![]() There remains much to be learned and this lute manuscript will provide an ongoing rich resource for uncovering more fascinating insights into Early music and our wider history. It is so thrilling to think that John Dowland’s beautiful piece, Lachrimae, is contained within the manuscript, showing the importance of British music and musicians and the influence they had on their contemporaries on the continent. ![]() The manuscript had been at risk of export but now will be cared for in the university collections in perpetuity. We are delighted to have awarded a grant to the University of Edinburgh to secure the future of this significant and rare musical manuscript. University donors, including the Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall, also contributed to the purchase. The University’s purchase was made in partnership with the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and with support from the National Fund for Acquisitions and the Friends of the National Libraries. ![]() It had been reserved for sale internationally, but the UK Government imposed an export bar on the book to give UK institutions the chance to secure it. The manuscript was once owned by the French-born musician and instrument maker Arnold Dolmetsch, who was a leading figure in the 20th-century revival of interest in early music. Among them is the melancholy masterpiece Lachrimae Pavan by the celebrated composer John Dowland. It contains pieces by French, Italian and British composers – 89 of which are not found in any other manuscript. Dr Jenny Nex Curator and Lecturer in Musical Instruments at the University European links To have compositions performed on the instruments for which they were written offers amazing insights into compositional and performance practices that inspire musicians of today in many different ways. Thanks to the generosity of our partners and supporters, the lute manuscript will enrich students’ and visitors’ understanding of how music was played and enjoyed at the time. We are delighted to be able to exhibit this incredibly rare and important manuscript. The volume, which contains 320 works, will also be digitised and made available for researchers as part of the University of Edinburgh’s Heritage Collections. It will initially be exhibited at St Cecilia’s Hall, in Edinburgh’s Old Town, alongside a lute also dating from the same time.Ī series of concerts is planned to take place at the University venue, giving audiences a chance to hear how the music might have been performed by travelling musicians at the time. The manuscript, thought to have been created in Bavaria around 1620, is still in its original binding. It is one of the most important surviving sources of music for the lute – written as the instrument enjoyed huge popularity in 17th century Europe. The rare volume was recently been acquired by the University. 1640 lute manuscript procured by the University with support from partners. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |