Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall and Museum

09/09/2026

We’re banging our own drums!

This weeks Instrument(s) of the Week are the tablā and bāyā. These two drums are the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music and this particular pair are quite unusual in that the bāyā is made from clay, where modern examples are made of metal. They are a rare surviving example of an older style of construction.

Want to find out more? Head over to our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects and use the lookup number below!

Pictured: Tablā and Bāyā, mid 19th-century. MIMEd 0416.

07/09/2026

LAST-MINUTE SPACES HAVE OPENED UP!

A few places have just become available for 100 Tubas at Lammermuir Festival.

On 19 September, 100 tuba players will fill Amisfield Walled Garden with the extraordinary sound of Anthony Braxton’s Composition No. 19 (For 100 Tubas), alongside Marco Blaauw and four trumpet players from Red Note Ensemble.

We’re delighted to be able to open up a small number of last-minute spaces for players who missed out the first time around.

CLICK THE LINK IN OUR BIO

19 September
Amisfield Walled Garden

31/08/2026

Lots of great events and concerts at St C’s in September!

27/08/2026

It’s all go at St C’s!

It's almost time!

Next week, we are hosting the ICOM Music Annual Meeting.

If you can't attend in person, you can register for online attendance, with tickets priced at just £20.

See you there!

https://www.stcecilias.ed.ac.uk/2026-icom-music-annual-meeting/

26/08/2026

An oldie but a goodie!

This week’s Instrument of the Week is this triple-fretted clavichord from c.1620. This tiny instrument is of great historical importance as it is among one of the oldest surviving clavichords and it is probably the oldest surviving clavichord made north of the Alps.

Want to find out more? Head over to our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects and use the lookup number below!

Pictured: Triple-fretted clavichord, c.1620. MIMEd 4486.

22/08/2026

Today 3-4pm, £5-£15. Tickets on the door!

19/08/2026

It’s a violin, Jim, but not as we know it …

This week’s Instrument of the Week is the alto violin! This instrument may look like a viola, but it is actually a violin. It is part of the New Violin Octet, a series of violins designed by Carleen Hutchins, who wanted to create eight violins of matched scale and design.

Want to find out more? Head over to our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects and use the lookup number above!

Pictured: Alto violin, Carleen Hutchins, 1974.

19/08/2026

Today at 3pm! Tickets £5-£15 on the door.

17/08/2026

A great review of an excellent concert! For more concerts at St Cecilia's Hall: Concert Room & Music Museum, see https://friendsofstceciliashall.com/events-new/

St Cecilia's Hall 15/8/26 Hilary Michael, violin/sax, Richard Michael, piano In Conversation: Baroque, Blues and Beyond is one of the Sounds of St Cecilia’s series Many here in the lovely oval Sypert Hall have exceptional musical knowledge, but I'd lay odds that every one of them learned

17/08/2026