Music As Cultural Glue
Findhorn has always attracted quality community musicians as well as international stars. I think people are drawn here partly for the music. Music is powerful cultural glue and is also a means of reaching out through concerts and tours. 
The musical flowering of the early 1970s was spearheaded by The New Troubadours until they left in ‘73 and the mantle was picked up partly by established artist Hans Paulson. Many of those involved in building the Universal Hall were musicians, and when it opened in 1978 there was a flourishing scene with singers such as Loren Stewart and Lee Preisler contributing greatly to community life.
There were also at least two rock bands though electric music was frowned on by some.
James and Debbie Hill were the centrepiece of community music into the early 80s, with Debbie’s choir, and men’s and women’s barber shop groups. Children’s Sanctuary became another important part of the musical mix.
Summer solstice celebration with Ian Turnbull, Barbara Swetina and François Monnet
In 1986 an auspicious meeting took place at Cluny with Foundation members Rory O’Connell, Barbara Swetina and Lily Kellogg teaming up with guests Chris Power and Kate O’Connell. They discovered a mutual love of participatory music and song and a desire to eradicate recorded music from community events. There followed a creative explosion of ceilidh, jazz and Sacred Dance bands, regular Taizé singing, the Festival of Sacred Dance, Music and Song and much more, one high point being the international conference, Songs of Heaven and Earth, in 1996. Along with Peter Vallance and Bill Henderson this group continue to carry the flame. Live music is prevalent in all community events and the next generation are flourishing at NFA open mike nights and regular Friday night sharings, with Children’s Sanctuary now held by Findhorn grown up child, Iona Leigh. Music has always been a vital force in community life, bringing people together and serving to improve our sense of joy and wellbeing.
Kate O’Connell
Digital Routes is a web design and development company based in beautiful Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth of Scotland
So true, thanks for sharing that Kate. My three visits (one a year long) in 1979, 1980, 1989-90 and overlap with Hans Poulsen in his one time home in Blue Mountains west of Sydney (Australia), led me to appreciate how music and sound shared unites and commune between us. Hans Lifesong workshops (I did two one in Australia at Elm Grove Sanctuary, and Ian and Sheila in 1979 did a musical I loved and their album WHisperings, I still have.
The dances I did in ’79, I continued with a Friends of Findhorn group in Canberra, created a bond for me to the sacredness shared in dance choreographed to music, especially with live band. Rory O’Connell, Peter Vallance, Barbara Swetina I was thrilled to meet in my times there.
I now, (retired) teach a U3A group Circle Dance here in Long Beach, well south of Sydney and love it. Still dancing tunes Anna Barton taught us 30 yrs ago. Blessing from down-under . Bruce I M