Duns Scotus to be celebrated in song
A special cantata is to be hosted by a historic Glasgow parish in honour of one of Scotland's greatest saintly scholars. St Mary’s Abercromby Street will be the venue for the Scotus Cantata at 10.30am on Wednesday 2nd April with more than 20 schools participating. The Cantata uses song and dance, pageantry and prayer, humour and piety to celebrate the life of Blessed John Duns Scotus on his 7th centenary.
Mgr Gerry Fitzpatrick, who composed the music, said: “In this cantata we become pilgrims in the footsteps of John Duns Scotus, as we make our way across Europe, from Haddington to North Uist, to Oxford, Paris and Cologne.
“It’s colourful entertainment, designed to let the children explore the roots of Scotland's influence in Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries and to help them understand that education and scholarship were not unknown even during a time of war in this small country to the north-west of Europe, and that Scotland was capable of producing one of the finest scholars of his age”.
Duns Scotus lived in Scotland in the 13th century, at the time of Wallace and Bruce. Born in Duns, he was educated at Haddington, then at the Temple at Carinish in North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, before going on to Oxford, Paris and Cologne - first as student and then as a scholar renowned for his wisdom and teaching throughout Europe.
The Scotus Cantata is open to the public - no booking required.