Parliamentary News Release
059/2004
1 October 2004
SCOTLAND 'S POET LAUREATE COMPOSES POEM FOR HOLYROOD OPENING
Scotland 's Poet Laureate Edwin Morgan has penned a special poem to mark the opening of the new Scottish Parliament building.
The 84-year-old poet, who is suffering from cancer, will be unable to attend the ceremony personally but poet and playwright Liz Lochhead has agreed to perform the first public reading of the poem before The Queen and invited guests at the event on Saturday, October 9.
Earlier this year, Mr Morgan was asked by the Parliament's Presiding Officer George Reid to compose a poem to mark the official Opening.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Morgan said: “I'm sad I won't be at the opening but I'm looking forward to hearing and watching the events on what will be a very special day.”
He added: “I haven't seen the building for myself but I have looked at photographs and I like the look of it. I know there has been much criticism of the new Parliament but I think that will gradually fade when people realise what a remarkable building they have.
“It is a very modern building in terms of its architecture and my poem reflects that and my hopes are that it will be a building where good debates will take place.”
Mr Morgan revealed it took several months to think about his poem for the Opening but just a week to put his thoughts to paper and write the 50-line poem, which will take four minutes to read. The content of the poem is currently being kept under wraps.
He added: “It was a great privilege to be made the national poet of Scotland and I'm delighted to be doing the job.”
Ms Lochhead, 56, said she felt honoured to be standing in for the Poet Laureate to read the ‘wonderful poem'.
She said: “It's a huge responsibility which I will try to carry out as well as I can and with as light a heart as possible. It's wonderful to be taking part on a great day in history.”
Final preparations are being made for the event in the Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber, which will bring together around 300 people from all walks of life across the country, along with Scotland 's 129 MSPs, to witness the official Opening by Her Majesty The Queen.
The programme for the official opening has been devised to reflect the cultural diversity in Scotland and includes performances from some of Scotland 's most talented musicians.
Eddi Reader, one of Scotland 's most successful female singer-songwriters, will be involved in the proceedings.
Along with leading folk musicians Phil Cunningham (whistle), Colin Reid (guitar), John McCusker (whistle) and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Reader will perform the song ‘Wild Mountainside' and – along with a group of Gaelic singers, the National Youth Choir of Scotland and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra – she will also sing ‘Auld Lang Syne'.
She said: “I'm extremely honoured to have been asked to perform at this historic event.
“I think that Scotland is beautiful and I'm very proud of everything it has given me. I'm particularly pleased to be singing this gorgeous song ‘Wild Mountainside' which is about how beautiful Scotland really is.
“Singing this song, here in the new Parliament building, is my prayer for all who work for us in this place, now and in the future, to be magnificent in the job of caring for Scotland .”
Also providing entertainment for the guests will be BBC Young Musician of the Year 2004, violinist Nicola Benedetti from West Kilbride, who will perform an arrangement from ‘Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso' by Saint Saens, accompanied by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Nicola said: "I am truly honoured to be asked to perform at the opening of our Nation's parliament. October 9 will be a historic day for the Scottish people, and to be part of this celebration will be both exciting and rewarding.
“This year has been amazing for me as a musician and as an individual, and this unforgettable event will be one of the most memorable experiences in which I have had the opportunity to be involved."
Gaelic plays a key element of next week's ceremony, with Presiding Officer George Reid set to formally welcome the Queen to the Parliament in English and Gaelic.
A group of Psalm singers, Seinneadairean-shalm Leòdhais , from the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles will sing Psalm 121: 1-5 in front of guests in the Chamber at Holyrood.
The ceremony will open with a fanfare performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, which will mark the entrance of the Scottish Parliament's mace bearer, followed by archers, pursuivants and heralds.
Inside the Chamber, The Queen will be joined by the Duke of Edinburgh; Lord Lyon King of Arms; the Duke of Hamilton bearing the Crown of Scotland; the Captain General; and the Parliament's Deputy Presiding Officers.
The day will begin with a short ceremonial event at Parliament Hall, the seat of the first Scottish Parliament, which the Queen will attend prior to the opening ceremony.
This will be followed by a “Riding” (procession) down the Royal Mile to Holyrood, which will involve schoolchildren, community groups and representatives of civic society from across Scotland, as well as MSPs.
Bands and groups from across Scotland will entertain the thousands of spectators expected to turn out on the day. Between 1pm and 5pm , the public can enjoy a range of entertainment, including Scottish dance, music, poetry, drama and recitals, within the gardens of Holyrood and Our Dynamic Earth Amphitheatre, neighbours of the Parliament.
Each MSP has been asked to nominate one person from their constituency who they believe has made a contribution to the lives of other Scottish people, to participate in the Riding event.
For further information, contact:
Eric MacLeod: 0131 348 5389
email: eric.macleod@scottish.parliament.uk
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