For the last weekend in November, a mini festival of free musical performances and workshops will entertain and inspire the residents, visitors and students of Aberdeen.
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Inspired by local people and places, musicians and singers from the region have been working alongside the University of Aberdeen’s music department and partner organisations to produce an exciting and varied programme.
This will be the fifth in the UNI-Versal suite of mini-festivals. The aim of each has been to promote the people and stories of Aberdeen to local and international audiences and give a wide audience access to enjoy the University of Aberdeen’s historic campus.
From joining in a traditional Scottish ceilidh to learning about church bell ringing, or even how to play the Balinese gamelan, there really is something on for everyone.
Music festival in Aberdeen: all the events
All events are free, just sign up in advance to reserve your place at the festival.
FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER
All Things Vile and Terrible
Discover how some of the best-loved hymns incorporate outdated or offensive concepts and what we can do about it. Hear perspectives from musicology and divinity alongside creative contributions from student musicians. Singing is optional!
11:30-13:00 at King’s College Chapel.
Pop-up Café Sessions
Enjoy diverse performances from the music department students while enjoying a coffee.
12:00-14:00 at MacRobert Cafe, University of Aberdeen; and Atrium, Institute of Medical Sciences Building, Foresterhill Campus.
Music & Gender Roundtable Talk by Popgirlz Scotland
Popgirlz Scotland supports female/female-identifying/trans artists in the Scottish music scene. They’ll be discussing inequalities within playlisting and spotlighting articles from the press.
13:30-15:00: James Scotland Suite (MR028), MacRobert Building, University of Aberdeen.
Compline by Candlelight
Hear the ancient chants of the Compline service sung by the University Chapel Choir.
17.00-17.45: King’s College Chapel.
SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER
Introducing Gamelan Talk
This short talk introduces the concepts and foundations of Balinese music, focussing on the gamelan gong kebyar and its place in Balinese culture and history.
10:00 – 10:30: Multimedia Room, King’s College Conference Centre.
Come & Play: Gamelan Workshop
Whether or not you’re a musician, enjoy this opportunity to play the beautiful Balinese gamelan gong kebyar, the only one of its kind in Scotland.
10:45 – 12:15: First Floor Studio, King’s Pavilion.
Bellringing Sessions
Learn about the history of bell ringing and how it really works, plus enjoy the chance to have a go yourself!
12:00, 12:45, 13:30 & 14:15: St Machar’s Cathedral, The Chanonry, Old Aberdeen.
Come & Play: Steel Pans Workshop
Try out some Caribbean Steel Pans in a fun, relaxed event open to everyone.
13:00 – 14:00 & 14:30 – 15:30: MacRobert Building Annex, (meeting point: MacRobert Foyer).
Doric Dwams Dance
Originally commissioned for cello and the spoken word, this evocative piece is being performed with young contemporary dancers from Citymoves’ Fusion dance troupe.
14:00 – 14:30: Main Hall, King’s Pavilion.
The Outwith Ensemble: Playlist
A combination of professional performers and talented students will present a diverse selection of music as a stream of consciousness, drawn together by a series of vignettes.
16:30 – 18:00: Main Hall, King’s Pavilion.
18th Century Ceilidh
Dance the night away to the University’s own Early Music Ensemble performing on period instruments. Let the caller lead you through historic Scottish country reels, with a few more modern dances thrown in.
20:00 – 23:30 in the Main Hall, King’s Pavilion.
Pauline Black, head of music at University of Aberdeen, said: “We look forward to welcoming locals and visitors from all over the UK and around the world to our music mini-festival as we celebrate our University’s 525 years of global history. Come and join us as we weave our stories, sounds, jigs and reels from the past into our hopes for the future.”
And remember, all events are free but you must book tickets for UNI-Versal online in advance to reserve your place.