It has been a while since I blogged, not that I have been sitting at home doing nothing, quite the opposite, so busy that I haven't had time to blog. much the same now but I can't let this time of the year go by without mentioning the most notable events that I am attending, I have rather resolved not to give an endless list of this Burns Suppers and a' that, you will get a few, but my Blog tonight is mainly about the most magnificent conference held last week at the University of Glasgow, Centre for Robert Burns Studies, "Robert Burns 1759 - 2009". This was a massive conference even by Glasgow standards where the annual event has been going on for many years, but under the auspices of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies the event has reached new heights. Over 3 days, 15th - 17th, over 75 speakers participated, some very eminent academics from literally all corners of the globe, interspersed by a few independent enthusiasts, such as myself who was very honoured to give a paper in such an expert programme.
I will not list everything that happened, perhaps just a few highlights, From the time Principal Sir Muir Russell introduced Fiona Hyslop MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Education) to launch the programme we were treated to many great delights, such as on day 1 we opened with Prof Leith Davis from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, and finished with the great Prof G Ross Roy of the University of South Carolina. Outstanding on day 2 were Prof Susan Manning from Edinburgh, Prof Fiona Stafford, Oxford, and Prof Chris Whatley Dundee, closing day 3 was Prof Robert Crawford, St Andrews and that was after excellent presentations from John Cairney, and David Purdie.
The main plenary sessions were interspersed by panels where delegates had the difficult task of selecting from a huge array of papers to go and hear. Often the questions and discussion flowed over into the coffee and lunch breaks. It was three very full days, running at times from 9.30 and finishing at 6.00 or 7.00pm. When I say finishing then that is not strictly the case.
The conference was supplemented by three outstanding and unique events, On Thursday evening in Oran Mor, Sheena Wellington entertained with a selection of the Merry Muses, (one of the themes of the Conference) and there was a performance of the Jolly Beggars cantata. Friday had a world premiere of a piece of music newly composed by James MacMillan, commissioned by the Centre for Robert Burns Studies, and a selection of Burns songs, to arrangements by Haydn, which the University has been working on for a number of years. Saturday of course finished with a dinner, billed as an Alternative Burns Supper, perhaps reflecting the fresh thinking going on in the centre. I had the good fortune to be at a table with the Chancellor, Sir Kenneth Calman, Glasgow's Lord Provost Bob Winter, and Prof Francis Johnson, of Stony Brook University, Long Island who with his wife presented a goblet owned by Burns to the Centre. (I should have mentioned that earlier the centre had been presented with a Kilmarnock edition). The star attraction of this alternative supper was a superb rendition of Tam O' Shanter by Karen Dunbar.
A fantastic end to three intense days of exchange of Burns knowledge, Dr Gerard Carruthers, Dr Kirsteen McCue, and all the staff, administrative & academic, of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies have to be heartily congratulated for putting together such an outstanding three days marking this great anniversary.
I look forward to more Conferences at the centre.
2 comments:
As one who was also at the conference, can I endorse Bill's comments here. Some excellent papers but to me even more importantly, a chance to network with like-minded individuals. Well done to all concerned.
Kev
...and could I add that two members of the World Burns Federation - Bill and I - presented at this conference! Surely worthy of mention and a first for the Federation?
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