Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Ruth Perry and Alison McMorland In brief Date - 7 November 2025Venue - OnlineSpeakers - Emeritus Professor Ruth Perry (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); Alison McMorlandTitle - The Ballad World of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland Email Neill Martin for joining details About the eventThis presentation will mark the recent publication by Oxford University Press of Professor Perry's biography of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland (1747 - 1810). The work celebrates a remarkable source singer of ballads, learned from her mother, aunt and a maidservant in her family, existing in a collection of 35 ballads in 52 versions. Anna Gordon's lifetime spanned the first wave of folksong collecting from oral tradition, and she was recognised and praised at the time by early collectors. A companion piece to the biography is a selection of ballads from her repertoire, freshly recorded by singers and musicians under the artistic direction of Alison McMorland, for a double CD published by Birnam. About the speakersRuth Perry is Professor Emeritus and Ann Fetter Friedlaender Professor of the Humanities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her biography of Anna Gordon, Mrs. Brown of Falkland, brings together her interests in balladry, orality, women’s cultural traditions, and the Scottish Enlightenment. Alison McMorland is a highly esteemed singer and collector.How to attendJoining a seminar is free, and everyone is welcome. No booking is required.All seminars take place online fortnightly on Fridays from 13.00 to 14.00. Please contact Dr Neill Martin to be added to the mailing list for an invitation, link and passcode. Email Neill Martin for joining details About the Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar SeriesAs the longest established department of its kind in Scotland, Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh is a major international hub for research, teaching and learning.Each semester, we welcome a wide range of guest speakers and colleagues to present a lunchtime seminar on their work.Are you interested in Celtic and Scottish Studies?We offer three undergraduate degrees and a number of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led, drawing on excellent teaching and research and access to world-leading collections and archives. Find out more about Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh Tags Celtic and Scottish Studies Nov 07 2025 13.00 - 14.00 Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Ruth Perry and Alison McMorland An online seminar by Emeritus Professor Ruth Perry (MIT) and singer Alison McMorland on the 'Ballad World of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland'. Online Email Neill Martin for joining details
Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Ruth Perry and Alison McMorland In brief Date - 7 November 2025Venue - OnlineSpeakers - Emeritus Professor Ruth Perry (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); Alison McMorlandTitle - The Ballad World of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland Email Neill Martin for joining details About the eventThis presentation will mark the recent publication by Oxford University Press of Professor Perry's biography of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland (1747 - 1810). The work celebrates a remarkable source singer of ballads, learned from her mother, aunt and a maidservant in her family, existing in a collection of 35 ballads in 52 versions. Anna Gordon's lifetime spanned the first wave of folksong collecting from oral tradition, and she was recognised and praised at the time by early collectors. A companion piece to the biography is a selection of ballads from her repertoire, freshly recorded by singers and musicians under the artistic direction of Alison McMorland, for a double CD published by Birnam. About the speakersRuth Perry is Professor Emeritus and Ann Fetter Friedlaender Professor of the Humanities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her biography of Anna Gordon, Mrs. Brown of Falkland, brings together her interests in balladry, orality, women’s cultural traditions, and the Scottish Enlightenment. Alison McMorland is a highly esteemed singer and collector.How to attendJoining a seminar is free, and everyone is welcome. No booking is required.All seminars take place online fortnightly on Fridays from 13.00 to 14.00. Please contact Dr Neill Martin to be added to the mailing list for an invitation, link and passcode. Email Neill Martin for joining details About the Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar SeriesAs the longest established department of its kind in Scotland, Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh is a major international hub for research, teaching and learning.Each semester, we welcome a wide range of guest speakers and colleagues to present a lunchtime seminar on their work.Are you interested in Celtic and Scottish Studies?We offer three undergraduate degrees and a number of postgraduate programmes, both taught and research-led, drawing on excellent teaching and research and access to world-leading collections and archives. Find out more about Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh Tags Celtic and Scottish Studies Nov 07 2025 13.00 - 14.00 Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Ruth Perry and Alison McMorland An online seminar by Emeritus Professor Ruth Perry (MIT) and singer Alison McMorland on the 'Ballad World of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland'. Online Email Neill Martin for joining details
Nov 07 2025 13.00 - 14.00 Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series: Ruth Perry and Alison McMorland An online seminar by Emeritus Professor Ruth Perry (MIT) and singer Alison McMorland on the 'Ballad World of Anna Gordon, Mrs Brown of Falkland'.
