ROSSLYN CHAPEL

see video of cube carvings   see chartres labyrinth as a cymatics symbol

ROSSLYN CHAPEL, near Edinburgh, holds many secrets. Linked to Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, and all of the legends and theories (and some hoaxes) which form the basis of "The Da Vinci Code" and many more scholarly books researching  claims of "hidden sacred secrets" and even the Quest for the Grail, the chapel is a magnet for the inquisitive. BUY CD OR BOOK/CD PACKAGE     BUY BOOK

	For hundreds of years experts and visitors alike have puzzled over the carvings in the chapel. Whilst many people debate whether they point to hidden treasure, musician Thomas Mitchell has, after twenty years of research, apparently cracked part of the code.
TOMMY MITCHELL

He believes that the ornate ceiling of carved arches, featuring 213 very unusual decorated cubes, holds a code for medieval music.   Amazingly, the cubes are decorated with patterns which were shown by scientist Ernest Chladni  in the 18th century to be produced by vibration of glass plates at certain frequencies, and this research was continued by musician and amateur scientist Margaret Watts Hughes, who invented a device called the Eidophone to produce these patterns. In themselves, the patterns are simply visual representations of vibration and thus nothing out of the ordinary: what is amazing is that the Rosslyn cubes were carved 500 years BEFORE the supposed discovery of the technique.   Using the Chladni research as reference, Thomas Mitchell discovered that the cubes, when translated, produce a meaningful and authentic medieval musical composition. This has been verified by Acoustic Science experts at Edinburgh University.

Through the diligent research and hard work of Tommy Mitchell and his son, composer Stuart Mitchell, this ancient music, composed and encoded by unknown hands, presumably at the behest of chapel builder William St. Clair, has been "translated" into a modern performing edition, and has been recorded for release by Divine Art. This project has caught the imagination of the media worldwide and has so far been the subject of articles in the Daily Telegraph, New York Times, Daily Herald, Classic FM Magazine, Daily Mirror, and several other publications. The Mitchells' discovery has also been the subject of features on BBC Radio 4 "Today" Programme", BBCTV "Breakfast Programme", FUJI TV, ABCTV (USA), CBC (Canada) and UKTV History. Detailed documentaries are planned by the BBC and Daily Telegraph Films Unit. We hope the acoustic qualities of Rosslyn Chapel's design will bring a special and haunting atmosphere to the recording, which will be made using authentic Pythagorean tunings of the 15th Century, (A=432kHz). The text is adapted from Ut Queant Laxis (which is a hymn in honour of St. John the Baptist). The piece also features such ancient instruments as an Organetto and Lowland Bagpipes. It is a most unusual and beautiful combination of sound and melody. The first movement is called 'The Apprentice Pillar' and the music covers the entire amount of arches and cubes emanating from the top of the pillar. The next movement moves to The Journeyman's Pillar and then to the central ' Master Mason's Pillar', before a final movement.  The Motet only lasts for 11 minutes (typical of a piece of that period) but its simple, ethereal and haunting tunes have a magic that belies their simplicity, staying in one's head like a mantra.

STUART MITCHELL AT ROSSLYN

Why would such music be hidden in code?   Thomas Mitchell believes that it is part of a far bigger story and that Rosslyn does in fact hold the key to sacred secret knowledge.  Tommy has written a book on the research and findings he has made that will explain in detail how he discovered and interpreted the encoded music.This book, entitled "Rosslyn Chapel - The Music of the Cubes", published by us (Diversions Books) will be available from all good booksellers, and is available from our webstore now.  

THE ROSSLYN MOTET has been issued on our Diversions label, accompanied by Thomas Mitchell's "Songs of the Chartres Labyrinth" performed by members of The Tallis Chamber Choir, The Chartres Singers and instrumentalists. Although previously tagged at full price, as the CD duration is relatively short at 35 minutes, despite the historical and philosophical importance of the discovery we have decided to issue it at mid-price. .  NOW AVAILABLE from our on-line store - click here so you can experience this music, locked away for 600 years.