Flickering candlelight, atmospheric architecture, and music of illumination and warmth… Our much-loved December concerts provide an alternative to the usual musical offerings of the season, filling the beautiful surrounds of Dumfries’s Crichton Church with evocative music to leave you feeling enlightened, inspired – and no doubt a touch festive.

As we celebrate 50 years of championing music for strings, this year’s concert is an anniversary special, showcasing all that the string repertoire has to offer. We’ve pieced together a jigsaw of glittering, illuminating, haunting and uplifting works from across musical styles and centuries, combining pieces that have a special significance for SE with audience and musician favourites. Between melodic Holst, Grieg and Sibelius will come shimmering slices of 21st-century music, a golden era favourite, a folk-inflected song and a beautiful carol.

Event duration approx. 2hrs with an interval

Programme

A journey through centuries and styles, including the following and many more

J. S. Bach
Goldberg Variation No.13

Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Waltz from Serenade for Strings

Gustav Holst
Ostinato from St. Paul’s Suite

John Tavener
Tears of the Angels

Henryk Górecki
Three Pieces In Old Style (No.3)

Anna Meredith
Variation on Tullochgorm

Erkki-Sven Tüür
Insula Deserta