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Blog of writer and educationalist Raymond Soltysek.
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog

English - Reviews, Comment, Education
http://raymondsoltysek.wordpress.com/
Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 1d ago

“Northern Writes” Creative Writing magazine

I’ve blogged a couple of times about the excellent Northern Writes conference for young writers that Aberdeen council runs each year.  The annual anthology of writing by those young people is now online here: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=43518&sID=13170 The quality
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 1w ago

Sacred Music: the Story of Allegri’s Miserere, BBC 4, 18/5/12

I’ve just watched a lovely BBC4 documentary on Allegri’s “Miserere”, that most mysterious piece of devotional music that was held like a state secret by the Vatican for so long.  Simon Russell Beale tells its story, and then The Sixteen, a cool choir led by Harry Christophers I’ve never come across
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 1W ago

Education Scotland: Persuasive Writing Skills materials

Last autumn, I was contracted by the then Learning and Teaching Scotland to create support materials for the development of persuasive writing for the new National Qualifications courses in English. Designed in much the same way as the materials I produced in 2010 to support creative writing for the
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 2W ago

All arted out: Madrid, May 2012

My annual wee weekend away with pals takes us to Madrid, the first time I’ve ever visited Spain. It’s a lovely city, but odd in a number of ways. It doesn’t seem to have an identifiable vista like Paris or London or Edinburgh, and is a little like Glasgow in that the fantastic architecture is [...]
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 3W ago

Sun on my back, warmth in my soul: Deolinda, Manchester Band on the Wall, 1/5/12

I’ve been a fan of Deolinda ever since their first album came out, and saw them first at Celtic Connections in 2010 when they – or, more especially, Ana Bacalhau’s foghorn voice  – absolutely blew me away.  They are a lovely band, perfect musicians led by the perfectly charming and cheeky and pretty
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 3W ago

The incest tragedy? “King Lear”, Citizens’ Theatre, 27/4/12

My second King Lear in just over a year, after 2011′s fantastic Derek Jacobi version.  That was a very traditional take, all pagan standing stones and a venerable king thrown on the mercy of Dark Age gods.  This is something else. It’s a sign of Hayman’s ambition as an actor that he felt ready to [.
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 1M ago

“New Writing Scotland 30″

Just had the good news today that my short story, “Spree Killer”, has been accepted for the forthcoming edition of “New Writing Scotland”, published every year by the Association for Scottish Literary Studies.  In the past, I never seemed to have anything suitable at the time of submission, and if I
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 1M ago

Berlioz: “Te Deum” & Symanowski: “Stabat Mater” / Paisley Abbey, 21/4/12

Despite being a  raving atheist – occasionally, literally – I have a great fondness for Paisley Abbey.  At about five, I was taken to see the Queen plant a tree in its grounds, then  grew up going to music lessons in Paisley on a Saturday morning, went out on the town with my pals as [...]
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 1M ago

Amanda Shires, Woodend BLTC, 18/4/12

Amanda Shires is a pretty, tiny  Texas gal who writes and sings some lovely songs.  It’s a little odd to see her in the rather posh surroundings of the Woodend Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club – I expected her to get a gig at Oran Mor at least – but, hey, who cares?  It’s an [...]
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Raymond Soltysek's Blog · 1M ago

Amanda Shires, Woodend BLTC, 18/4/12

Reblogged from Raymond Soltysek's Blog: link to Amanda Shires site Amanda Shires is a pretty, tiny  Texas gal who writes and sings some lovely songs.  It’s a little odd to see her in the rather posh surroundings of the Woodend Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club – I expected her to get a gig at Oran [...]
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