Symphony inspired by Declaration of Arbroath

CELEBRATION: Composers use the 700-year-old letter as muse for work to premiere at festival

The Declaration of Arbroath has provided the inspiration for a new orchestral symphony.

The work is composed of six brand new pieces by leading Scottish composers which will be premiered at the UK’S major celebration of Celtic music.

The Declaration will receive its world premiere at Celtic Connections 2020, just months before the 700th anniversary of the signing of the document next year.

Signed at Arbroath Abbey in 1320 and written in Latin, the decarent is often described as one of history’s most powerful pronouncements of nationhood.

It is a letter written by the barons and whole community of Scotland to the Pope, asking him to recognise the country’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king.

Celtic Connections received £100,000 to deliver The Declaration from the Festival Expo Fund, which is designed to promote the development of Scottish artists and performers as well as raise the international profile of the events.

Folk, jazz and classical musicians were given “complete freedom” in their compositions for the Grit Orchestra, which is an 80-string orchestra founded by Greg Lawson.

The musical has potential to tour internationally after Celtic Connections 2020 “to project Scottish culture and heritage to the world”.

The Grit Orchestra was originally instigated by the festival to perform live versions of work by the late composer and musician Martyn Bennett.

Glasgow’s annual folk, roots and world music festival Celtic Connections 2020 runs from January 16 to February 2.

The Declaration of Arbroath will be celebrated across Scotland next year.

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Folk, jazz and classical musicians were given ‘complete freedom’

It will be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland in March to mark 700 years since the document was created.

It has not been on public display for 15 years, when it was last shown to the public at the Scottish Parliament.

The declaration is cared for by National Records of Scotland and can only be displayed occasionally due to its fragile condition.

Arbroath will also host

2020 Declaration of Arbroath commemoration celebrations next year.

Picture: SNS Group. Saxophonist Paul Towndrow, cello player Su-a Lee, conductor Greg Lawson, fiddler Patsy Reid and piper Finlay Macdonald.