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| Sandy Moffat, Alan Riach, John Purser |
'Framing The Arts' - Three elder
statesmen of the Arts in Scotland – with
Professor Alan Riach, Painter Sandy Moffat, Musician and composer John Purser, gave a talk at Edinburgh international Book festival 2017.
"Arts at the
heart of life in Scotland and the cultural history of literature, painting, and
music."
"ARTS and the NATION" - There were limited copies of their new book and I have just received my copy via Amazon. It is a great read so far and i highly recommend to anyone who sees the importance of the arts in shaping our society to a more caring and compassionate one. The arts are first about our humanity.
LITERATURE
They spoke
of the reconstruction by the Arts for a new vision of Scotland that are totally
different in nature than the national movement of fascists, and that the Scottish arts are
not focused inwards at all. Also the opening up of the arts to the young in order to move ideas
forwards. They
discussed places like the Abbotsford bar, which were once physical meeting
places and gave connections for artists and journalists back in the 50s.
Professor Raich spoke of his two page spread in the
National newspaper, that day with no adds or interference, and he said that the writing
was of a very high standard.
Scots always
look outward with their Arts and festivals, but we need, as these respected
artists state, to also understand and know our own heritage and stories - and to look inside our own house too. Scotland
does not want to leave Europe (or England) – but also there are strong
movements to reconnect to Scottish stories, cross borders, and to open windows
on Scotland’s arts.
*MUSIC
John Purser, composer an writer
Until
recently, Scots had no knowledge of Scottish classical music, composers or
Scottish folk music. Scottish theatre, folk music, pipe music, and classical
music were neglected – which has led to a cultural destruction. Purser spoke of the
Scottish Music archive.
He said all
students at Glasgow’s RCS (The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) had studied in
Europe, and that music is of course international. They were instructed never to
look within the house and always asked to look outward! It is scandalous that
those who graduate know nothing of their own country’s heritage. Purser told a
story of a young girl studying for her music higher, she was part of the
travelling peoples and felt she lacked musical knowledge, but said that she
made reeds for her uncle’s pipes. He told her that she probably knew more of
Scottish music than those studying at the colleges!
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| John Purser |
*ART
Painter Moffat said
they were starting to take the Scottish art out of the basement at the National
galleries.
Scottish Artists - Raeburn, Ramsay,
David Willkie, Glasgow Boys, JD Fergusso., He said that
Scottish artists won’t leave Europe. The highly respected art critic John
Bellamy was mentioned. Scots are very poorly educated in our Scots
history and arts.
They all spoke
of the aim to build a grassroots audience for arts and not only an elite
audience. (1934 SNP established.) The modern Scot world of reconstruction; the
Montrose Renaissance which was then the equivalent of Paris in the 30s and was
led by the revolutionary poet Hugh MacDiarmid, a co-founder of the SNP.
I agree with all of this. I
was educated in Edinburgh and learned nothing of Scottish history, heritage,
arts or music! I mean nothing here! Even
though I studied Art, History and English Highers and went on to teaching! (Now I am older I am teaching myself Scottish heritage!) I did learn English heritage though, of the Tudors and Shakespeare.
BOOK – ‘ARTS
AND THE NATION’ - To engage
in the recovery of neglected Scottish composers, artists and writers, locating
them in an international context.
As the poet Hugh MacDiarmid wrote, artists must
be both national and international. Perhaps in our fast moving Digital age
there is a strong desire to reconnect to permanence, to traditions and to those
lasting stories...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arts-Nation-Alexander-Moffat/dp/1912147106
MEDIA ?? (PS There was no
mention of Digital, Media, TV or film – and how Scots can access their own and
international arts via the new platforms. For young people they want diverse
ease of access via many mediums and that’s how they access their news also.
They want control, which is a good thing.
The new
film, tv studio at the Pentlands is welcome new and long overdue. Scotland
first tv channel will air in autumn 2018! it’s a scandal. (both Wales and
Northern Ireland have studios with the massive Game of Thrones film in Northern
Ireland.) Good news is that both the recent success of Outlander and T2, have
brought recognition to Scotland.Other regions such as Catalonia, has Five TV channels.
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