In Memoriam

Dear Music Lover,

Many people have wanted to support our project but just can't decide on a "favourite" piece of music. Try asking a musician to select something! But it's easier to choose for someone else, especially someone we've been close to for years, and who we associate with that piece of music.

That's the case with our two squares today. First, Away From the Roll of the Sea by Allister MacGillivray, whose every composition seems to betray his Cape Breton roots. There is something about his tunes that make you wonder if they are really old folk tunes - they seem vaguely familiar, and you listen as if you know where the tune is going, and even if you get it wrong, you are humming along by the end of the song. This is for Veronica, in memory of Kathy Deters, a wonderful lady and supporter of the festival. She and her husband spent many happy holidays at their cottage in Nova Scotia where she sang and conducted her own choir, named Roll of the Sea.

The boats are securely moored in the harbour for the night, just like the baby being rocked to sleep in your arms. Rest in Peace, Kathy.

Our second request, from Jay, is My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose by Robbie Burns, in memory of Brian Emery, also a beloved friend of the Festival who died suddenly two weeks ago. Brian sang in the Festival Singers for 31 or 32 years, and his humour and prodigious memory for detail and lyrics was renowned. He was very gifted musically, a conductor and organist in his church, and a talented singer. He was most comfortable in the tenor range, but he also sang bass, and in one instance I remember, he sang a beautiful and yet hilarious falsetto version of Buttercup in a concert version of HMS Pinafore.

It took a little time deciding how to do this square. In the end there had to be a landscape from Ayrshire,  where Robbie Burns was born. This view is from the top of Goatfell on the Isle of Arran, looking down on the town of Brodick with Holy Island in the distance. I think Brian would have loved this view and I'm kind of partial to it myself. It was inspired by a photograph by Robert Strachan, of Ayrshire - he must be a relative of mine, with a name like that.

In our memories always, we miss you Brian.

Take care, all, and see you soon,

Susan Strachan Johnson