A FREE EVENT centred on an eighth-century stone on the grounds of Brodie Castle provided a fascinating Sunday for visitors to the historic National Trust site.
Artists, storytellers and musicians gathered in the castle grounds to tell the legends of the ‘Rodney’s Stone’- and to be the first to perform a new musical piece composed by lauded Scots fiddler Paul Anderson.
Visitors were first treated to a talk by professional musician John Kenny, who described the history of instruments from the conch shell used in ancient times – which he demonstrated to great effect.
There was then a run-down on the history of ‘Rodney’s Stone’ by National Trust for Scotland archaeologist Dr Shannon Fraser.
It is the Stone that is the inspiration behind Paul Anderson’s composition, in particular its Pictish symbols. Paul had composed the work in four parts to reflect the journey of the stone to different sites before it was finally erected in the grounds of Brodie Castle in the 1830’s.
Performing the work he was ably accompanied by a group of musicians who had attended a fiddle workshop with him the previous week.
The afternoon was rounded off by Ewan McVicar, a traditional storyteller who captivated visitors with his imaginative tale that brought to life the symbols on the stone.
Dr Fraser said: “The stone had been travelling from place to place for more than a thousand years, and Paul’s music both captures that journey and extends it into the future, with his hope that the suite becomes part of local musical tradition.
“I love the idea that every time a musician plays this piece, it will add another layer to the story of the stone and its wanderings.”