Edinburgh - Old Flutes, J.K. Rowling and Striking Out in Scotland

Libraries, Libraries, and more Libraries -- Edinburgh

With the week drawing to a close, we’ve seen a lot of the inside of buildings and some long days of work. Despite that, a little bit of touring around Edinburgh by foot, and exploring the sights.

Friday morning, another pipe band procession, of someone important down to the Parliament buildings. Today is the ceremonial Opening of Parliament, ironically on the day after Parliament broke for holidays until September. This time, we were at street level, on the way to the library, when we took photos. I must say, the uniforms are most impressive.

The Pipe Major:

Leopard is apparently in for the drummers:

The bayonet brigade:

The important person I didn't recognize, looking very unimpressed:

We were thinking as the procession passed by, that it must be hard to be royal and go anywhere quietly in this town. Imagine having to be piped everywhere.... Bother.

Monday – Wednesday were spent at the National Library of Scotland. As mentioned before, the process of ordering and retrieving materials is less immediate. There is no one definitive list or catalogue of materials – we went through several manual and online catalog searches through the week, to ensure we covered as much ground as possible. I’ve confirmed through the week that, for 18^th century Scots, music was music – period. Minuets, Sonatas and Overtures were mixed in with old Scots tunes in the same tunebooks, owned by the same players.

Old Flutes: 

Wednesday afternoon, we headed to Reid School of Music Collection of Musical Instruments, at the University of Edinburgh. General John Reid, a military officer as well as a flutist of the time, endowed a chair for the music faculty at the U of Edinburgh and money from his bequest has enabled the purchase and maintenance of a historic musical instrument collection.

Here are some pictures of the collection. It was understandable the instruments were all in cases and untouchable, but sad all the same.

Here's General John Reid:

Some of the instruments:

Walking Stick Flute:

 The 18th century flutes. There were two cases full of flutes, mostly 19th century keyed flutes, but these are the flutes relevant to my research. Bottom one is made of ivory.

 Dragon's Head Trombone, used in military bands:

 Some Alto and bass flutes.

Thursday Kevin and I spent the morning, and I stayed on for the afternoon, at the University of Edinburgh Library. Some photos of the campus, including one of the top of the music building. Don't know if the writing will be visible, but it says: School of the Theory of Music.
On the way to the library:

 On Bristo Square:

 The music building:

 Lantern in Bristo square:

Friday afternoon, we did a quick trip to the National Art Gallery, which was not affected by the strike. Found some more Naesmith paintings. Here's the view from the Art Gallery area:

 This is some of Princes Gardens, which used to be the lower Loch in Edinburgh. A nasty history, but very pretty now....

J.K. Rowling:

We’ve passed by several times, on our way to and from the NLS, the Elephant House. This is where J.K. Rowling spent her days writing the Harry Potter books. Today, after we finished at the NLS, we had “afternoon tea”  (coffee and squares, actually) at the café.

The cafe front: 

 Inside - doesn't look it from this photo, but very busy -- all tables constantly full:

 Our goodies:

Striking Out in Scotland:

On Thursday, Kevin ventured out on his own, after leaving me at the University of Edinburgh Library (with a smaller list of items to sift through), to check out the National Museum of Scotland and the National Portrait Gallery, nearby. The Portrait Gallery would have actually been part of the research. Having one's portrait commissioned in 18th century Scotland (as elsewhere) was "all the rage" for the upper class of society. These portraits can often offer iconographic evidence. Turns out both were closed, because of a work strike. (Strike one and two). 

We had also planned a trip to Holyrood on Saturday, but the palace has been closed all week (until July 4, in fact) as the Royal Family is in town. (Strike three!) Well, just unhospitable of the royals, I say, not to invite us for tea.... :)


One of our wanders included a trip by Greyfriars Churchyard. 18th c. Poet Allan Ramsay, who compiled the Tea-Table Miscellany, is buried here. The big tourist story for Greyfriars involves Greyfriars Bobby, a dog who visited his master's grave every day until his death. He is also buried at the churchyard and a statue out front of the church. 

We also passed by the statue of David Hume every day on our trek to the NLS. Apparently, its a tradition to rub his toe. (His one big toe is clean, shiny bronze, where the rest of him is green from oxidation.)

Last photo of this long blog was a pub we passed by on our way to St Cecilia's Hall, on Wednesday.
Hoping to go back for a concert at St. Cecilias on Saturday evening.

Missing our girls, but looking forward to a couple of days of touristing!