Imagine being married off to a Scottish king when you are 14 years old. Sailing across the sea from Denmark to be the wife of someone you hardly know. Your father gives away Shetland and the Orkney Islands as your wedding present.
This is the inspiration for a brand new piece of work ‘The Stirling Queen’ commissioned by The Queen’s Hall to celebrate its fortieth anniversary as a music venue in 2019. Written by Tim Kliphuis, with Scottish and Nordic roots and influences of gypsy, baroque and minimal music, the composition tells the story of Queen Margaret’s youth, her marriage to James III and her early death at Stirling Castle.
Tim Kliphuis has written and will perform this work for an ensemble comprised of his trio – Nigel Clark (guitar) and Roy Percy (bass), – Perthshire fiddle ace, Patsy Reid, Ireland’s Young Musician of the Year, Clare Friel and students at The City Edinburgh Music School at Broughton High School. This one-off programme shows how music is a universal language, crossing the boundaries between styles and countries.
Tim Kliphuis said : “I have blended the sounds of the gypsy jazz trio with the Scottish and Irish fiddling traditions to show in different colours the adventures that the Danish Princess had. We’ll be telling the story in concert!”
Support comes from Fiddlers on the Ramp, five lifelong friends who all attended The City of Edinburgh Music School and have honed a unique sound developed through years of busking and gigging around the streets of Edinburgh.
The world premiere of this new piece will take place at The Queen’s Hall on Monday 4 November from 7.30pm.
Tickets are on sale now, £9-£17 via this link: https://www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/tim-kliphuis-trio or by calling +44 (0)131 668 2019.
Presented by The Queen’s Hall and supported by Sam & Renate Breadon
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
