Description
These six easy organ voluntaries are based on melodies contained in the Skene Manuscript which is held in the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. The arrangements, which include extra material and modern harmonies, are playable on a single manual, but with solo and pedal opportunities for those whose instruments all
ow.
The Skene Manuscript (National Library of Scotland, Adv. Ms 5.2.15) originally consisted of a series of eight small volumes, later bound together as one. They were compiled over several years from about 1620, almost certainly by John Skene of Hallyards, Midlothian, who died in 1644. The pieces are written in tablature for the mandore, a small lute-like instrument.
This suite is an especially interesting reworking of the original material which is unmistakably Scottish in character. It is a true meeting of creative minds over the centuries.
Recorded by Karen Beaumont on YouTube.
