by Paul Matheson

The Lammermuir Festival is East Lothian’s annual festival of classical chamber music. This year it will transport us back to the world of pre-Reformation Scotland and Catholic Recusant England.

The festival was founded in 2010, yet it has already become a much-loved highlight of the classical music concert circuit. Its signature appeal is its belief that elegant historical buildings and beautiful surrounding landscape are the ideal setting for experiencing classical chamber music performances. And that’s exactly what the festival delivers in memorable settings near the Lammermuir Hills.

Every year the programme includes choral music concerts. This year there are three standout concerts that may be of particular interest to readers of Open House.  They all take place in St. Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington.

The Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin was one of the great ecclesiastical buildings of mediaeval Scotland, founded in 1380 and known for centuries as the ‘Lamp of Lothian’. It was severely damaged in the 16th century, and after the Reformation only the nave was used as a parish church.  The choir and tower remained roofless. It was finally restored to its former glory in the 1970s and is Scotland’s longest church as well as one of its most beautiful, with a richly atmospheric acoustic.

Paul Matheson is a music reviewer and diversity officer with the police.