Scottish Catholic Observer

Drawing inspiration from Mary’s own poetry and letters, a number of new compositions have been written, which will be showcased for seven days at the Fringe.

Following the performance’s resounding success at both the Glasgow West End Festival and the Oxford Lieder Festival, the show will make its debut in the Scottish capital this month.

Billed as an ‘emotionally gripping’ concert, composer Judith Bingham, who recently had her anthem for the reinterment of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral viewed by 700 million people across the world, has written Adieu Solace for the performance.

“I based the music, Adieu Solace, on a popular song by Claudin de Sermisy, which Mary would doubtless have heard,” said Ms Bingham. “The melancholy mood of the song influences the outer sections of the piece, which contrasts violently with the chaos of the murder of Rizzio.”

The concert will also feature compositional works by Eddie McGuire and Dee Isaacs, both of whom showcase different aspects of the Catholic monarch’s life.

Mr McGuire looked at Mary’s youth and her early losses, using the text of a poem written by Mary on the death of her 16-year-old husband, Francis II of France, set to a variation of an anthem written for her grandmother, Margaret Tudor’s, wedding to James IV of Scotland.

Meanwhile Ms Isaacs, in Triptych For Mary, explores the Queen’s maternal side and her level of resilience and strength.

The piece’s central song, Phoenix Rising, features a poetic work by John Donne, who was 15 years old when Mary was executed.

The music will be sung by vocalist Louise Macdonald, while Ingrid Sawyers will accompany on piano at Venue 125, artsspace@StMarks at 7 Castle Terrace.

The concert will run on August 16, 18, 23 and 24 at 12.30pm, and on August 19 and 20 at 3pm.

August 23 will also feature a question and answer session afterwards.

Tickets are available from the box office, and are priced at £14, £12 concession and £10 for Young Scot Card holders, while groups of 10 or more people can receive a 10 per cent discount.