Students, faculty and the community have had the benefit of hearing him lecture and perform. His visit is part of the exchange program ISU has with the University of Glasgow. In 1993, music professor Carl Bleyle went on faculty leave to Scotland. The two musicologists met and arrangements were made for John to come to Ames. John takes pride in his native country.
Beautiful music comes from Scotland.
It's an older country, older than France or Germany. You know , he said, Scotland was never overrun by the Romans, not like England was. He explained that music played a role in Scotland's survival. I remembered the Mel Gibson Academy Award-winning film Braveheart and the importance the sound of the bagpipes was to the warriors. Carl is not surprised by the positive attention John's residence is receiving.