THE LIVING TRADITION MAGAZINE, 2007
Issue 74
:MAGGIE MACINNES - Oran na Mna – A Woman’s Song Marram Music MARCD04
Maggie MacInnes has recorded the loveliest
album of her career with an exquisitely sequenced song cycle celebrating
the role of women in Scottish Gaelic life across the years – the music
was originally premiered at Celtic Connections Festival in January 2004.
All the songs here were composed by women – not only by Maggie herself,
but by anonymous women, whose creativity probably went unsung during their
lifetime. Their beautiful music lives on via the legacy of the oral tradition,
however, celebrating women’s role as tradition bearers. A palpable sense
of cohesion abounds in eleven sumptuous tracks that focus on birth and
baptism, nurture and guidance, love and loss, and hopes & ambitions for
the next generation.
The songs are performed by four sublime and lovely voices. Maggie’s
singing continues to reveal every emotional nuance, conveying a sense
of vulnerability at times; her mother Flora MacNeil contributes the most
beautiful spoken poetry, delivering words written as long ago as 1650
with warmth and feeling. The rich, distinctive delivery by Hands Up For
Trad Award winner Kathleen MacInnes, and the clear, beautiful voice of
Mairi Morrison complete the sensory impact – here you have the most delightful
combination of female Gaelic vocalists imaginable. The songs are without
exception beautiful, full of emotion and femininity, and the instrumental
tracks are captivating and full of life. There’s Màiri’s Dance with its
infectious, abundant energy, or the passionately sung A Mother’s Parting
Blessing. Or the exquisite Flora and the Primroses, with the ever-excellent
Fraser Fifield on saxophone. The stellar musician line up is completed
by Finlay MacDonald, Brian McAlpine, Marie Fielding, Frank McGuire and
Aaron Jones.
Maggie has clearly drawn upon much inspiration for this mesmerising album,
and she acknowledges her mother’s gift of passing on such a vibrant ‘living
tradition’ to her. The recording was supported by the National Lottery
(through the Scottish Arts Council). It’s difficult to acknowledge that
such beautiful music has to be funded in this way to see the light of
day, but let’s be glad that they dug deep for this one. This is very,
very beautiful music, and it feels special and important.
Debbie Koritsas
THE SCOTS MAGAZINE,NOVEMBER,2007
By Alasdair Maclean:
Oran na Mna (A Woman's Song) stars Maggie MacInnes from Barra,voted Best
Gaelic Singer of 2004 at the BBC Scots Trad Music Awards.Fired by a commissioned
piece she brought out for 2004's Celtic Connections,she has now developed
the piece and expanded it,finally recording it with a distinguished cast
including Fraser Fifield and Maggie's mother,celebrated Gaelic singer
Flora MacNeil.
The affecting collection is the result: its catalyst is that many Gaelic songs were written by women,many of whom remain anonymous; now as women poets and songwriters are becoming more visible in Gaeldom-- Catriona Montgomery from Roag in Skye is featured for example-- Maggie celebrates them on this CD,released on her own label.
Motherhood,birth blessings,lullabies,parting,love and loss are celebrated - to quote a hackneyed newspaper strap line "all human life is here", except that here it is expounded with taste,emotion and love.