Saturday 13 April – Kings and Saints in Nigg Old Church

2.00pm – 4.00pm including refreshments.

Kings and Saints: Bob Pegg tells the dramatic stories of Pictish historical personalities who hit the headlines in the contemporary foreign sources, and who defined the early history of Scotland. There will be special emphasis on the dominant Pictish king in the eighth century – the time of the production of the Nigg cross-slab. This, essentially theatrical, lighthearted, performance will be an engaging way of extending knowledge of the achievements of the Picts for those who assume that little is known about them other than their sculpture.

Bill Taylor will provide suitably chosen musical interludes. Suitable for all ages, including children over 8 years.

Sunday 21 April Music-making in early Medieval Scotland

Nigg Hall 2.30pm – 4.00pm followed by refreshments

Pictish Harps, Historical harp specialist Bill Taylor will present an overview of music-making in early Medieval Scotland, based on iconographic evidence found on Pictish stones. The harp depicted on the Nigg cross-slab is a particularly fine example. Images of harps, often connected to larger story cycles of King David, appear on about a dozen stones, and new theories are emerging which explore the origins, distribution and construction of such instruments. Bill will cite the appearance of harps on different stones, discuss the context of the imagery, and also play reconstructions of harps, including examples strung with wire, gut and horsehair.

On this occasion visitors will have the chance to see the harp modelled on the Nigg harp, exhibited here by courtesy of the Board of Directors of Groam House Museum. For all ages, including children over 8 years.

Source: Bob Pegg