Wallpaper Music Scrolls - Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead
History of Artefact:
The music is of traditional hymns and psalms, set to scores by William McPhail. An article by Sir Andrew Macphail states that his father used these as teaching tools in the classroom at Uigg where he was a schoolmaster from 1862-67 and possibly for adult "singing" classes at later dates. Since the Homestead was purchased by William in 1864, the wallpaper rolls were most likely leftovers from them refinishing the old Fletcher residence and the patterns are important clues to the room's furnishings in the first period of the family's occupation of the Homestead. The wallpaper pattern on this scroll of blue and ochre small block print on white background. Two additional wallpaper prints (a green and a brown floral pattern) may be seen on the other 16 rolls; the scroll was handed down through the family from Sir Andrew's sister, Catherine, to her daughter Janet, to her niece Louise. Dr. jack Whytock and his musicologist wife Nancy, presented a lecture on the "musical wall paper of Sir Andrew Macphail" at the Homestead's annual Memorial Dinner in October 2005. The following year Nancy Whytock transcribed all the music from the 17 scrolls and continues research for publication and studio recording.