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FLOWER OF THE WEST (Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Friday 6 May 2005) |
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Sgrìobhte le Carole
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Dimàirt, 01 Dùbhlachd 2009 09:36 |
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09 May 2005
FIONA MACKENZIE hears a stellar cast of Gaeldom's finest celebrating of the songs of Calum and Rory Macdonald.
GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL was the venue for the culmination of many months of logistical and artistic acrobatics with the production of 'Flower of the West'. This flagship event, undertaken by 'An Lochran' - Glasgow's Gaelic Arts organisation - was a celebration of the music and contribution made to the Gaelic Arts scene by the Gaelic song writing duo, Calum and Rory Macdonald of Runrig.
The programme was based around the much acclaimed songbook written by the brothers, 'Flower of the West', and was produced under the musical direction of Mary Ann Kennedy, Bruce MacGregor, Brian MacAlpine, Phil Cunningham and Kenneth Thomson.
With the cast of Gaelic singers and musicians involved, it would be hard for this project to fail. Seldom has there been a roll call of Gaeldom's finest artists such as this and the atmosphere in the hall was testament to the audience's expectations.
The programme was opened by an unaccompanied rendition by Rona Lightfoot, Kenna Campbell and Mairi Macinnes of that beautiful emigrant song based on a pibroch air, 'Fraoch a Ronaidh'. This was the only non-Runrig song of the evening, but it was a fitting opening, encapsulating the spirit and history of the islands of Uist where the Macdonald brothers grew up.
This was followed by a moving performance of 'Chi mi'n Geamhradh' by traditional singer Donnie M. Macleod , accompanied on haunting harmonies by Maggie MacDonald of Cliar. Not all of the songs included were the well known ones and it was particularly pleasant to hear some of the lesser known songs, such as 'Pòg aon Oidhche Earraich', performed by Arthur Cormack, also of Cliar.
Contemporary treatments were also given by Iain Morrison of the band Poor Old Ben, which were particularly enjoyed by the younger members of the audience and the members of the Glasgow Gaelic Primary School Choir, who accompanied several songs together with a 100 strong choir provided by an amalgamation of the Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir, the Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir, Govan Choir, Stirling Choir and Kenneth Thomson's' own choir, the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association (or the GG's).
"The new, and future, generation of singers and musicians will be using this legacy of music for many many years to come." |
