Alexander McCall Smith is the bestselling author of over sixty books including the celebrated No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. His 44 Scotland Street Series, which appears in the Scotsman newspaper and is published in full by Polygon, has also been enjoying considerable success. The light-hearted series concerns itself with the comings and goings of an eclectic group of Edinburgh residents and has received wide critical acclaim.

This work is the result of a collaboration between author and composer, McCall Smith's specially created narration, which captures the personalities and foibles of the Scotland Street residents, providing the inspiration for the following set of character variations:

 

Domenica Macdonald (anthropologist - represented by an "exotic" tango)

Bruce Anderson (notorious narcissist - represented by a pompous march)

Pat McGregor (love sick flatmate of Bruce - represented by a love theme)

Bertie (6 year old jazz-loving saxophone-playing prodigy - represented by a cakewalk)

Irene Pollock/Dr Fairbairn (Bertie's pushy mother and her co-conspirator, Bertie's psychoanalyst - represented by Wagner)

Cyril the dog (the only dog in Scotland with a gold tooth)

 

"The result is immense fun, beautifully envisaged by Graham’s lively score, and performed with such gusto and humour by the talented young performers of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I am grateful to all of them for helping me to see my characters afresh."

 

Alexander McCall Smith 

 

Note: The narration can be spoken/acted or if preferred printed/projected as a programme note to accompany the variations