Launch of unique Gaelic Christmas Cd by The Highland Council
The Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship for The Highland Council, in conjunction with major record label Greentrax, launched the first ever Scottish Gaelic Christmas CD Duan Nollaig at the National Mod in Fort William last week and orders for the double album of 35 songs, suitable for all ages are now flooding in.
Fiona Mackenzie, the Mairi Mhor Fellow said: “I have had many requests over the last few years from all over the world, from people looking for Gaelic material to play at Christmas, and particularly also from teachers in Gaelic medium classes in Scotland, but to date there has been no such resource. We also wanted to make Gaelic Christmas music as accessible to as many people as possible whether or not they would normally listen to Gaelic or folk music. To this end, we employed the services of one of Britain’s best known musical producers, Irvin Duguid, from Glasgow, to bring a different and exciting edge to the album. Irvin came to the project with no pre-conceptions of what Gaelic song ‘should’ be about and so whilst we have remained true to the Gaelic tradition, there is no other Gaelic album around with a sound such as this.
“We have included translations of classic carols such as In the Bleak Midwinter and Silent Night, Away in a Manger and 12 Days of Christmas but also some new songs written just in the last year. We also have traditional Gaelic Christmas songs based on lyrics from the Carmina Gadelica , Christmas hymns from the Islands, and new songs for young people and children. There is something for everyone no matter what their musical taste is – from classical to traditional, country and western to rock, we have it covered. The songs are even multi cultural in that we include a Manx carol, translated into Gaelic but still incorporating verses in Manx Gaelic, we have a hymn which is sung in Latin and Gaelic and Ciùin an Oidhche or Silent Night begins in the original German. Young people will be particularly interested in the rock element which we have incorporated.”
The album features Fiona on lead vocals with extra vocals from Karen Matheson of Capercaillie and Maggie Mcdonald of Cliar, James Graham , this years Mod Gold Medallist and Katie Mackenzie of the RSAMD. Musicians include Anna Massie of Fortrose, Gary Innes of Spean Bridge, Hamish Napier, Grantown, Simone Welsh, John Goldie, Jim Drummond, Ed Mcfarlane, Ronan Martin of Skye, Morven Macleod, Inverness, and Irvin Duguid on piano, keyboard and Hammond Organ.
The Highland Council’s Chairman of the Gaelic Committee, Councillor Hamish Fraser welcomed everyone to the launch on Saturday and introduced Morag Macdonald of BBC Radio nan Gaidheal who officially launched the CD.
The project was funded by Highland Council, Greentrax , SAC and Bòrd na Gaidhlig. The album is out on Greentrax – CDTRAX320D and is available from all the usual outlets and online, or from Fiona herself at the Education Office in Dingwall, 01349 863441.