Scotland's Music
The book, Scotland's Music was first published in 1992 by Mainstream and provoked widespread critical acclaim.
“It is a most splendid account of the history of music in Scotland with wonderful illustrations and musical
illustrations very clearly presented and fascinating text . . I shall treasure the book and wanted you to know how very grateful I am to you.” (Sir Yehudi Menuhin to John Purser 8.6.1992)
“ . . . nothing like this cornucopia of discovery, this magisterial survey of a nation’s musical heritage . . has been attempted, let alone achieved with such distinction and authority . . . Purser writes with ebullient belief in his subject. He is assertive and partial, scholarly but accessible, optimistic yet able to measure the ground we must make up . . He pinpoints geography, sketches in the nuances of social order, and never hesitates to measure the temperature and tempo of the times . . Purser’s book . . should be in every library in the land.” (W Gordon Smith,
Scotland on Sunday, Spectrum 12.4.1992.
“ . . the sheer scale of scholarship, research and dedication which has gone into its production is quite breathtaking . .” (Cate Devine, The Scottish Field, May 1992)
“ . . magnificent double achievement – the very successful series of programmes on radio Scotland – and
now this massive beautiful book . . “ (Hamish Henderson to John Purser, 6.4.1992)
“ Purser’s writing style is florid but entertaining, scholarly but undaunting, committed and infectiously enthusiastic without lapsing into groundless propaganda . . an activism which should take great pride in our Scottish musical heritage and which has received a tremendous shot in the arm from John Purser’s scholarship and this inspiring book.” (James MacMillan, The Scotsman Weekend 21.3.1992.)
“ . . magisterial survey . . The book is a milestone . . Its style . . is Purser’s own: a lyrical wordsmith who finds succulence in language, his poetic descriptions stand proud on the page; and he is unafraid to speculate . . Anyone interested in any aspect of the nation’s musical heritage will find inquiry and enlightenment in this lavishly illustrated book.” (Michael Tumelty, The Herald 25.3.1992.)
“It is a magnificent work in both its breadth and depth of scholarship: excellently presented, furnished with countless musical examples, written with clarity and passion in equal measure.” (Peter Cudmore, Cultural Weapons. In: Chapman No.71 Winter 1992-93.)
“He has read John Purser’s Scotland’s Music from cover to cover and is ready to pronounce: ‘I really believe that the only untouched music left in the world is Scotland’s. Everything else has become the language of tourism.’” (Mary Miller interviewing Pierre Boulez, The Scotsman, August 1994)
“It’s such an asset to Scottish culture in general that John Purser brought off his enormous ‘coup’ in Scotland’s Music, the radio series (30 episodes, 90 minutes each!) and, in the book of the same name, a point of reference for both Stewart [Conn] and myself. It’s a musical bible, establishing once and for all how intrinsically musical this Scottish nation is.” (John Sampson, ‘Piping to Stewart’s Tune’, In: Chapman 109)
“It is a most splendid account of the history of music in Scotland with wonderful illustrations and musical
illustrations very clearly presented and fascinating text . . I shall treasure the book and wanted you to know how very grateful I am to you.” (Sir Yehudi Menuhin to John Purser 8.6.1992)
“ . . . nothing like this cornucopia of discovery, this magisterial survey of a nation’s musical heritage . . has been attempted, let alone achieved with such distinction and authority . . . Purser writes with ebullient belief in his subject. He is assertive and partial, scholarly but accessible, optimistic yet able to measure the ground we must make up . . He pinpoints geography, sketches in the nuances of social order, and never hesitates to measure the temperature and tempo of the times . . Purser’s book . . should be in every library in the land.” (W Gordon Smith,
Scotland on Sunday, Spectrum 12.4.1992.
“ . . the sheer scale of scholarship, research and dedication which has gone into its production is quite breathtaking . .” (Cate Devine, The Scottish Field, May 1992)
“ . . magnificent double achievement – the very successful series of programmes on radio Scotland – and
now this massive beautiful book . . “ (Hamish Henderson to John Purser, 6.4.1992)
“ Purser’s writing style is florid but entertaining, scholarly but undaunting, committed and infectiously enthusiastic without lapsing into groundless propaganda . . an activism which should take great pride in our Scottish musical heritage and which has received a tremendous shot in the arm from John Purser’s scholarship and this inspiring book.” (James MacMillan, The Scotsman Weekend 21.3.1992.)
“ . . magisterial survey . . The book is a milestone . . Its style . . is Purser’s own: a lyrical wordsmith who finds succulence in language, his poetic descriptions stand proud on the page; and he is unafraid to speculate . . Anyone interested in any aspect of the nation’s musical heritage will find inquiry and enlightenment in this lavishly illustrated book.” (Michael Tumelty, The Herald 25.3.1992.)
“It is a magnificent work in both its breadth and depth of scholarship: excellently presented, furnished with countless musical examples, written with clarity and passion in equal measure.” (Peter Cudmore, Cultural Weapons. In: Chapman No.71 Winter 1992-93.)
“He has read John Purser’s Scotland’s Music from cover to cover and is ready to pronounce: ‘I really believe that the only untouched music left in the world is Scotland’s. Everything else has become the language of tourism.’” (Mary Miller interviewing Pierre Boulez, The Scotsman, August 1994)
“It’s such an asset to Scottish culture in general that John Purser brought off his enormous ‘coup’ in Scotland’s Music, the radio series (30 episodes, 90 minutes each!) and, in the book of the same name, a point of reference for both Stewart [Conn] and myself. It’s a musical bible, establishing once and for all how intrinsically musical this Scottish nation is.” (John Sampson, ‘Piping to Stewart’s Tune’, In: Chapman 109)
In 2007 Purser revised and substantially extended Scotland's Music.
“ . . . the long-awaited rewrite of his mind-blowingly original 1992 edition of Scotland’s Music – is once again a paragon of probing research, rigorous documentation, and pugnaciously informed opinion. . . . Primarily, though, this book brings us bang up to date. Besides perceptive stylistic comment on Scotland’s most recent established composers, Purser widens the net to reflect the breaking down of musical barriers . . .” (Kenneth Walton, ‘Last word in 'Scotland’s music’, In: The Scotsman, Friday 7 December 2007, Review.)
“a serious yet forthrightly encyclopaedic and even provocatively splendid book. It is eminently readable and deals doughtily with a serious subject in an engaging way. It is stiffened by an open-handed selection of illustrations jostling music examples, engravings and photographs” (Rob Barnett in British Music Society News 119, September 2008.)
“In his magnificent book, John Purser broadens our vision by covering every aspect of Scottish music from its beginnings to the present day. The experience, scholarship and sheer musical skill he brings to the task is extraordinary; in an era of specialisation he provides a sweep through Scotland’s music that in both range and depth will probably not be attempted again. That this is the second edition, revised and updated, and expanded by over a hundred pages, is even more remarkable . . . Its 22 chapters are densely annotated, profusely illustrated, and accompanied by extremely comprehensive ‘select’ bibliographies and discographies . . . The scope of this book is breathtaking . . . “ (Ian Olson, “Scotland’s Music . . .” The Review, Vol LXII, No.218 Winter 2009, Aberdeen.)
“Sumptuous is not a word I use very often, but it’s definitely spot on for this volume. Scotland’s Music is an exciting journey through that country’s musical tradition. From prehistoric ‘rock gongs’ to Runrig, you’ll find mention of them all in John Purser’s all-encompassing study. More than anything else, this is a social history, with everyone from kings to poachers playing their part . . The reader is constantly introduced to new and interesting figures and events from Scottish culture . . . The volume is lavishly illustrated . . . Scores of the tunes and songs - in Gaelic, Scots, Latin and English – pepper the pages, constantly demanding the reader’s attention . . . . Sometimes darkly funny, often sad in style, the author always has a telling story to relate . . .” (Anon, Morning Star, 24.11.07)
“ . . . the long-awaited rewrite of his mind-blowingly original 1992 edition of Scotland’s Music – is once again a paragon of probing research, rigorous documentation, and pugnaciously informed opinion. . . . Primarily, though, this book brings us bang up to date. Besides perceptive stylistic comment on Scotland’s most recent established composers, Purser widens the net to reflect the breaking down of musical barriers . . .” (Kenneth Walton, ‘Last word in 'Scotland’s music’, In: The Scotsman, Friday 7 December 2007, Review.)
“a serious yet forthrightly encyclopaedic and even provocatively splendid book. It is eminently readable and deals doughtily with a serious subject in an engaging way. It is stiffened by an open-handed selection of illustrations jostling music examples, engravings and photographs” (Rob Barnett in British Music Society News 119, September 2008.)
“In his magnificent book, John Purser broadens our vision by covering every aspect of Scottish music from its beginnings to the present day. The experience, scholarship and sheer musical skill he brings to the task is extraordinary; in an era of specialisation he provides a sweep through Scotland’s music that in both range and depth will probably not be attempted again. That this is the second edition, revised and updated, and expanded by over a hundred pages, is even more remarkable . . . Its 22 chapters are densely annotated, profusely illustrated, and accompanied by extremely comprehensive ‘select’ bibliographies and discographies . . . The scope of this book is breathtaking . . . “ (Ian Olson, “Scotland’s Music . . .” The Review, Vol LXII, No.218 Winter 2009, Aberdeen.)
“Sumptuous is not a word I use very often, but it’s definitely spot on for this volume. Scotland’s Music is an exciting journey through that country’s musical tradition. From prehistoric ‘rock gongs’ to Runrig, you’ll find mention of them all in John Purser’s all-encompassing study. More than anything else, this is a social history, with everyone from kings to poachers playing their part . . The reader is constantly introduced to new and interesting figures and events from Scottish culture . . . The volume is lavishly illustrated . . . Scores of the tunes and songs - in Gaelic, Scots, Latin and English – pepper the pages, constantly demanding the reader’s attention . . . . Sometimes darkly funny, often sad in style, the author always has a telling story to relate . . .” (Anon, Morning Star, 24.11.07)