Transatlantic Notes to celebrate 400 years of music

Published On Thu 15 Jan 2015 by Roddy Isles

Four centuries of musical tradition and innovation spanning the Atlantic will be celebrated at the University of Dundee on Thursday January 29^th.

`Transatlantic Notes - Scotland and America's Shared Musical History’ will feature an illustrated lecture from Nancy Groce of the Library of Congress in Washington, and a musical performance from Brian McNeill.

The Fulbright-Scotland Legacy event is being hosted by the University’s Centre for Scottish Culture, in conjunction with the Arts & Humanities Research Institute and the Centre for Archive and Information Studies.

Professor Graeme Morton, Director of the Centre for Scottish Culture, said, “We are excited to be hosting this amazing collaboration exploring the musical links between Scotland and America.

“Emigration and song have long been the backdrop to Scottish life and no-one should be surprised to learn that wherever Scots went their music travelled with them. But do any of us really know the richness of this experience? This is our chance to find out. Brought to life by ethnomusicologist Nancy Groce, and with music performed by the ever popular Brian McNeill, Scotland and America have never been closer.”

Nancy Groce is a folklorist and ethnomusicologist at the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center. In her illustrated talk she will explore 400 years of musical traditions, innovations and transatlantic exchanges. She will be introduced by Dundee-based folk legend Barbara Dymock.

The lecture will be followed by a performance by Brian McNeill, founder of Battlefield Band, and one of the most acclaimed forces in contemporary Scottish music. Brian will perform his song cycle The Back O’ The North Wind, commemorating Scottish emigration to America.

The event takes place in the Bonar Hall from 7pm on Thursday January 29^th.

Admission is £3 and £1.50 for students.

The Fulbright-Scotland Summer Institute is a unique partnership between the University of Dundee, University of Strathclyde and the US-UK Fulbright Commission with support from The Scottish Government and civic partners. The project has welcomed undergraduates from the USA to study in Scotland each of the past two years.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head of Corporate Communications
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384910
Mobile: 07800 581902
Email: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk