Christmas Gaelic CD is World First
Schools in the Highlands where Gaelic Medium education is taught will be celebrating Christmas this year to the sound of Christmas songs and carols in Gaelic thanks to the introduction of the world’s first ever Scottish Gaelic Christmas album.
The Highland Council’s Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship has recently produced this unique musical album, titled “Duan Nollaig” and copies are to be distributed to all schools in Highland where Gaelic is taught in over 40 primary and secondary schools.
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: “The introduction of “Duan Nollaig” is a wonderful step forward in supporting the Council’s commitments to supporting the development of the Gaelic language and culture. Being the world’s first Christmas Gaelic Cd it will also help to promote the language, as I am sure it will be a great hit not just at home but among the Gaelic diaspora during the festive season.”
Delivering a batch of the new Cds to Gaelic medium pupils at Dingwall Primary School, Fiona Mackenzie, Highland Council’s Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship Officer said: “I have been inundated for the last five years with requests from all over the world and particularly from teachers in Highland schools, for a collection of Christmas songs and carols in Gaelic, which can be played at Christmas time, in the classroom or at parties and events. Until now, there has been no resource such as this so we are delighted to be able to fill this gap in the market.”
Duan Nollaig is a collection of thirty five songs suitable for all ages and musical tastes, old and new songs and songs which incorporate elements of other cultures.
She added: “ We wanted to produce a collection which reflected the diversity of Highland culture today and so have used influences from all musical genres, not just the traditional ones. Some of the most popular tracks with the young people and children are the rock tracks such as the Gaelic version of Leonard Cohen’s song Alleluia, which was made popular by Jeff Buckley and featured in the film Shrek.
“I have already been teaching this song to several Gaelic medium classes throughout the Highlands and the pupils just love to learn carols to other familiar tunes such as ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Silent Night’ too. I hope that many more Highland schools will show an interest in having me come to teach them the songs too.”
The Cd is available on the Greentrax label and is available in all record shops and online from www.footstompin.com and www.musicscotland.com. E-mail Fiona at the Education Office for more details fiona.mackenzie@highland.gov.uk
For further information please contact: Fiona Mackenzie, Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellow, The Highland Council, Education Centre, 13 Castle St, Dingwall IV15 9UQ tel: 01349 863441