Henry Kondracki: literary supplement

A chamber exhibition of paintings by Kondracki inspired by literary Edinburgh is on at the Royal Scottish Academy until January 5 2020. As you might imagine, Muriel Spark and Jean Brodie feature prominently. Entrance is free.

Muriel Spark Society Book Group

The Muriel Spark Society Book Group will meet on Monday 20 January at 6pm. The location is the Saltire Society just off the High Street in Edinburgh. Gail Wylie will lead a discussion of the poems by Spark which inspired David Matthews musical piece, White Flame, to be performed by the Nash
Ensemble with mezzo soprano a week hence at the Queen’s Hall (see separate post below)
The five early poems are:
The Victoria Falls
Like Africa
Winter Poem
To Lucius Sestius in the Spring
Epilogue

Concert for Muriel Spark

A concert with a Scottish premiere of a piece inspired by Spark’s poetry will be held in Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall on Monday 27 January 2020 at 7.45pm. The new piece, White Flame, is by David Matthews and is for piano quintet and mezzo soprano. The piece was commissioned by Penelope Jardine to mark Dame Muriel’s centenary in 2018.
The Nash Ensemble will perform in a concert supported by the Muriel Spark Society and The New Town Concert Society.
There is a pre concert talk at 6.30 pm: composer David Matthews and Alan Taylor.
Tickets are available from the Queen’s Hall Box Office:
0131 668 2019.

Muriel Spark Society Annual Birthday Lunch 2020

Our annual Birthday Lunch will take place on Sunday 26 January at 12.30pm. The venue is the Bruntsfield Hotel Edinburgh. Once again there will be a raffle and a quiz (with prizes!) on the novel, Memento Mori. In honour of the closeness to Burns day, haggis will be on the menu. The lunch is £32 per head with fizz on arrival and a glass of wine with lunch. It is open to non-members; please contact the Society if you would like to join us.

Angus P Collins 1943-2019

It is with sadness we announce the passing of Angus Collins. Angus’s course on Muriel Spark is the context out of which the Society grew. He inspired our founder, Christine Lloyd, and encouraged her to write to Spark to gain her blessing for the formation of a society in her name. He worked on the Committee, led book groups with quiet precision, and co-edited our newsletter. Many members will have happy memories of him.
The Chairman attended the funeral at the invitation of his widow, Hiromi.

Janice Galloway gives our annual lecture 12 November 2019

Janice Galloway delivered a fresh, detailed and unique perspective on Muriel Spark at the National Library of Scotland this week. The event was booked out, and informed questions taken at the end. She spoke about meetings with Spark, Spark's works and life. All was engagingly illustrated with colourful slides and a sound excerpt form an interview. Great to hear Muriel's voice once again.

Agnes Crawford in Venice ...

Check out Rome specialist Agnes Crawford on Venice. Wonderful images and insights.
@understandrome.

Scottish premiere of music inspired by Muriel Spark

A special coda to the Muriel Spark centenary with the first performance in Scotland of David Matthews’ setting of Muriel Spark poems, White Flame. This will be framed by a hallmark Nash Ensemble selection from some of the best-loved works in the chamber repertory.


Mozart: Piano Quartet in G minor K478
David Matthews: ‘White Flame’ – a setting of Muriel Spark poems for mezzo-soprano, piano and string quartet
Brahms: Two songs Op 91 for voice, viola & piano
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E flat Op 44
Victoria Simmonds: mezzo-soprano


Preceded at 6.30pm by a talk by composer David Matthews and Alan Taylor, past Chairman of The Muriel Spark Society, on the work commissioned to celebrate her writings.

Nash Ensemble, 19:45 Monday 27 Jan 2020

The Queen's Hall, The Queen's Hall, 85-89 Clerk St, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG

Tickets £16-£25

To book tickets, please call the Box Office on +44 (0)131 668 2019. Opening hours are generally 10am to 5.15pm, although these are extended when there is an event on.

Presented by New Town Concerts Society in association with The Muriel Spark Society and with financial assistance from the Muriel Spark Foundation.

Janice Galloway on Muriel Spark

Acclaimed Scottish novelist Janice Galloway will deliver the annual Muriel Spark Society Lecture at the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, on November 12 2019 at 5.30pm.
The free lecture is now fully booked, but you can contact the National Library of Scotland to be added to the waiting list. Contact NLS events: 0131 623 3734.

Spark at the Edinburgh Art Festival 2019

A Bust of Muriel Spark features in the exhibition below:


NICOLE FARHI: WRITING HEADS

Current exhibition

25 July - 31 August 2019

• Overview
• Works

Overview

Nicole Farhi: Writing Heads - a selection

The Fine Art Society in Edinburgh presents Writing Heads, an exhibition of 25 busts of 20^th century novelists and playwrights sculpted in ciment fondu and painted by Nicole Farhi MRSS, from Françoise Sagan to Muriel Spark and Samuel Beckett. Farhi models her figures as a response to their identity and work, sculpting after her feelings towards the figure as much as their recognisable qualities.

Tutored and mentored by Eduardo Paolozzi and Jean Gibson, Farhi is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors and has exhibited at Gainsborough’s House and Beaux Arts London.

A limited edition of bronze casts from the busts are available for sale in an edition of 7.

Nicole Farhi: Writing Heads is part of the Edinburgh Art Festival,
25 July - 25 August 2019 edinburghartfestival.com @EdArtFest #EdArtFest

The Muriel Spark Society AGM

Our AGM will take place this coming Monday 3 June at 6pm. The location is once again the Saltire Society. Please note: subscriptions are due for renewal on the night.
After formal business is concluded, we will have a talk by Shane Strachan, and then on to dinner at Pizza Express on North Bridge. Hope to see you there.

Jazzy Spark at the Fringe

Saxophonist Raymond MacDonald is performing an intriguing interpretation of Spark at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. “Lie still my sleepy fortunes” will take place at the Pianodrome at the Pitt (Venue 391) on August 16 and 17 at 5pm. The performance lasts one hour.
£12 (£10)

Spark Book Group - Territorial Rights and My Venice

The next Spark Book Group will convene on Tuesday 9 April at 6pm. We will meet in the Saltire Society at 22 High Street, and will be expertly led once again by Joyce Caplan. Territorial Rights was studied for the annual quiz, so the homework should all be done! Please also read Spark's essay on Venice, which can be found in the collection, The Golden Fleece.
Gail Wylie will be freshly returned from Venice and is hoping to bring back some Spark associated booty. We'll also get in the mood with some Italian wine and nibbles. Do join us if you can.

Muriel Spark Society Wine Tasting

The Society presented a very successful wine tasting at the Scottish Arts Club last night. Many members attended, as well as guests invited by Committee member Bridget Stevens. This made for a good mix and a convivial time was had by all. This was in no small measure due to the expertise of Alan Johnston, our guide for the evening. After a heady start on prosecco, the various wines were presented in batches of two for very telling comparison. A Old World/New World debate ensued!
Fun prizes were presented, and a top one of fine wine went to one of the expert tasters. Our great thanks particularly to Alan and Bridget. Thanks to Lorna Statham for organising, prizes, and like Jack Reynolds, pouring so judiciously!

Spark Book Group - next meeting

The Muriel Spark Society Book Group next convenes on Tuesday 9 April at 6pm. Our title this time is Territorial Rights, her novel set in Venice. We shall also consider her brilliant essay on Venice included in The Golden Fleece (pp. 84-89). The discussion will be led by Joyce Caplan.
Refreshments will be served. Join us and do some excellent preparation for our visit! You are also very welcome if you can’t make the trip.
Location:
The Saltire Society
Fountain Close, High Street
Edinburgh

Olga Wojtas goes to Morningside ...

A talk with Olaga Wojtas
Olga Wojtas was born and brought up in Edinburgh where she attended James Gillespie’s High School and inspired by Muriel Spark work. Her latest book, Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Golden Samooar is the ‘crème de la crème of crime fiction debuts’. (Edinburgh International Festival)
"Fifty-something Shona is a proud former pupil of the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, but has a deep loathing for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Shona is thrilled when selected by Marcia Blaine herself to travel back in time for a one-week mission in 19th-century Russia..."
She will talk about her book at Morningside Library.

        

Date and Time

Wed, 20 February 2019
14:30 – 15:00 GMT

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Location

Morningside Library
184 Morningside Road
Edinburgh
EH10 4PU
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Happy 101st Birthday Muriel Spark!

Let the celebrations continue ...

Jessamine Davenport

We are very sad to announce the passing of our stalwart member Jessamine Davenport. Jessamine beguiled us with stories of her life. She was an indispensable part of our trip to Siena, and played host to the Sparkisti at her home. Thank you Jessamine.

Is it red or is it white? Celebrating Carnevale. Wine tasting -more details!

A Tutored Wine Tasting presented by the Muriel Spark Society.

Led by Alan Johnston, former President of the Scottish Wine Society and active member of the Institute of Wines and Spirits in Scotland, as well as holder of a Higher Certificate in Wine from the Institute of Wines and Spirits, Alan is highly qualified to act as our guide in what promised to be a fun, informal yet informative evening. It takes place in the exclusive Club Room of the Scottish Arts Club.

Tuesday 5 March 7.30-9.30pm
The Scottish Arts Club, 24 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BW.

£15

Book your place by 15 February with Spark Society Membership Secretary Lorna Statham at:lornastatham@btinernet.com

The Muriel Spark Society is planning a trip to Venice in March 2020. Organiser Martin Gray of Learn Italy Study Holidays will be present.

Wine Tasting Carnevale 5 March 2019

Join the Muriel Spark Society for a wine tasting at the Scottish Arts Club on 5 March at 7.30pm. It will be led expertly by Alan Johnston, former president of the Scottish Wine Society. The cost is £15.
Please register your interest with our Membership Secretary, Lorna Statham: lornastatham@btinternet.com.
Martin Gray from Learn Italy will join us to speak of our proposed trip to Venice in March 2020.

Muriel Spark @ 101: a roundtable at Harvard

Harvard University will hold a symposium on Muriel Spark and novel theory on April 23rd 2019.

The participants are listed below:

 

Timothy Bewes, Brown University

Marilyn Reizbaum, Bowdoin College

Kelly Rich, Harvard University

James Wood, Harvard University

The Muriel Spark Society Annual Birthday Lunch 2019

To mark Muriel Spark's 101st Birthday, the Society will once again be holding a celebratory lunch. This time we will meet on Sunday 27 January 12.30pm at the Bruntsfield Hotel in Edinburgh. There will be fizz on arrival, followed by a three course lunch with wine. Afterwards, we will hold our quiz, this time on the novel, Territorial Rights. We will also be having a Raffle for the first time.
Some spaces remain and the event is open to non-members, so do think about joining us.
Contact our Membership Secretary, Lorna Statham: lornastatham@btinternet.com.