Research to highlight traditional forms of Gaelic singing has now been turned into an exhibition which will tour Hebridean communities in 2024 and 2025.
Dr Frances Wilkins, a Senior Lecturer in Ethnomusicology at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, has spent the last six years undertaking fieldwork in the West Highlands and Western Isles and exploring sacred and spiritual singing from the region.
She has been compiling and recording Gaelic song traditions, including hymnody, Gaelic psalmody and spiritual bàrdachd which are diminishing in Hebridean communities.
Dr Wilkins said: “In past centuries the Church played an important role in nurturing Gaelic language when it was excluded from schools.
“Today, ironically, the roles have been reversed. Gaelic and English bilingualism which in the past was given little or no credit, is now recognised as hugely beneficial to learning across the school curriculum but there are very few church services conducted in Gaelic, and this has contributed to a steep decline in the Gaelic sacred singing tradition.’
To help support the safeguarding of the tradition Dr Wilkins has been documenting and recording Gaelic sacred and spiritual singing to create an archive and bring the music to a wider audience.
Her research will form the basis of the new interactive exhibition, Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of the Highlands and Islands which she has co-curated with designer Ronan Martin. The exhibition is at Museum nan Eilean in Stornoway from 19th January – 12th April 2024 before touring Highland and island communities including Balallan (Lewis) from April - June 2024, Portree (Skye) from June - November 2024, and Lochmaddy (N.Uist) from December 2024 - February 2025. Visitors can learn more about sacred song traditions of the region and explore sound recordings, film, objects, and a digital archive, soundmap and interactive virtual tour.
Dr Wilkins says, “While the contexts for singing are currently in decline, the music continues to be a soundscape to a way of life for many people. The purpose of this exhibition is to explore how sacred singing was, and continues to be, integral to many aspects of community life, and to highlight the wealth of hymns, psalms and spiritual songs being sung in the region today.”
Co-curator Ronan Martin adds, ‘it’s been a privilege to work with the material collected by Dr Wilkins and learn more about this remarkable tradition, which plays such an important part in many people’s daily lives.’
Gaelic psalm singing, which has been integral to church and community life in the Hebrides for centuries, is a particular focus in the exhibition. One contributor to the project, Alex ‘Bhaltos’ MacDonald, expressed the importance of the tradition for him, saying ‘There’s just something about Gaelic psalm singing that moves me. It doesn’t matter where I am. If I hear it, it just brings me back to my youth. It brings me back to happy events … and very sad events. It was, is and always will be powerful in my eyes.’
Many of the sound recordings, photographs and videos made during the project form the basis of a website and online digital archive (at www.seinn.org). A CD and book publication showcasing some of the sound recordings is due to be released later in 2024 and sold within the exhibition.
Dr Wilkins adds: “Language is a way to express culture. The deep spiritual connection it has with its people and the role which music plays in this, must be recognised and supported into the future if we are to keep some of the most precious aspects of Gaelic culture alive.”
She goes on to say, “Doing the research in the Hebrides was an incredible experience. I have met so many inspiring people and am very grateful to everyone who has been involved and helped me with the project. I am pleased that my research and its publication is playing a part in the preservation of these unique song traditions.”
“I will be at the opening and look forward to returning to Lewis and meeting some of the project’s contributors again. It will be wonderful to have singers who were involved in the project at the exhibition opening.”
“The exhibition would not be possible without financial support from the British Academy, Carnegie Trust, and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and the support and valuable input of staff at Museum and Tasglann nan Eilean in Stornoway.”
The exhibition opening event will take place on Friday 19 January from 5:00-7:30pm at Museum nan Eilean. Entry is free with refreshments provided.
Opening hours at Museum nan Eilean are:
Thursday-Saturday, 1-4pm (until 31 March)
Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5pm (from 1 April)
Sunday-Monday - closed
More information can be found at: www.seinn.org
Venues interested in hosting the exhibition after February 2025, please contact Frances Wilkins frances.wilkins@abdn.ac.uk
Taisbeanadh gus cur ri Dìon Traidiseanan Seinn na Gàidhlig
Tha rannsachadh gus aire a chur air diofar sheòrsachan seinn traidiseanta na Gàidhlig air a bhith air a chur ann an taisbeanadh a bhios a’ dol air chuairt gu coimhearsnachdan Innse Gall ann an 2024 agus 2025.
Tha an Dr Frances Wilkins, Àrd-òraidiche ann an Eitn-eòlas Ciùil aig Ionad Elphinstone, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain, air sia bliadhna a chur seachad a’ dèanamh obair làraich ann an Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan Siar agus i a’ rannsachadh seinn spioradail agus cràbhaidh bhon sgìre.
Tha i air a bhith a’ cruinneachadh agus a’ clàradh traidiseanan seinn na Gàidhlig, a’ gabhail a-steach seinn laoidhean, seinn sailm agus bàrdachd spioradail a tha a’ crìonadh ann an coimhearsnachdan Innse Gall.
Thuirt an Dr Wilkins: “Ann an linntean a dh’fhalbh, bha pàirt chudromach aig an eaglais ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh na Gàidhlig an uair a bha i air a casg bho sgoiltean.
“An-diugh, gu h-ìoranta, tha an suidheachadh air atharrachadh. Tha dà-chànanachas na Gàidhlig agus na Beurla, rud nach robh a’ faighinn cliù, a-nis air a mheas mar rud luachmhor agus buannachdail do dh’ionnsachadh thar curaicealaim na sgoile, ach chan eil ach glè bheag de sheirbheisean eaglaise ann an Gàidhlig, agus tha seo air crìonadh mòr ann an traidisean seinn cràbhaidh na Gàidhlig adhbhrachadh.’
Gus taic a chur ri dìon a chur air an traidisean, tha an Dr Wilkins air a bhith a’ comharrachadh agus a’ clàradh seinn cràbhaidh agus spioradail na Gàidhlig gus tasglann a chruthachadh agus gus an ceòl a thoirt do luchd-èisteachd nas fharsainge.
Bidh an rannsachadh aice na bhun-stèidh airson taisbeanadh eadar-ghnìomhach, Seinn Spioradail a tha i air a chur air dòigh còmhla ris an dealbhaiche Ronan Màrtainn. Bidh an taisbeanadh aig Museum nan Eilean ann an Steòrnabhagh bho 19mh Faoilleach – 12mh Giblean 2024 mus tèid e air chuairt tro choimhearsnachdan na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, a’ gabhail a-steach Baile Ailein (Leòdhas) bhon Ghiblean – Ògmhios 2024, Port Rìgh (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach) bho Ògmhios - Samhain 2024, agus Loch nam Madadh (Uibhist a Tuath) bhon Dùbhlachd 2024 - Gearran 2025. Faodaidh luchd-tadhail ionnsachadh mu thraidisean seinn cràbhaidh anns gach sgìre agus faodar eòlas a chur air tro chlàraidhean, film, stuthan agus tasglann didseatach, clàr-dùthcha fuaim agus turas biortail eadar-ghnìomhach.
Thuirt an Dr Wilkins, “Ged a tha na suidheachaidhean far a bheil an t-seinn ann a’ crìonadh an-dràsta, tha an ceòl fhathast ann mar dhòigh-beatha airson mòran dhaoine. ’S e adhbhar an taisbeanaidh seo ach a bhith a’ sgrùdadh mar a bha seinn cràbhaidh, agus am beartas laoidhean, sailm agus òrain spioradail eile, cho cudromach do bheatha na sgìre san latha an-diugh.”
Thuirt an co-churaidiche, Ronan Màrtainn, ‘tha e air a bhith na urram obrachadh leis na stuthan a chaidh a chruinneachadh le Dr Wilkins agus gus barrachd ionnsachadh mun traidisean iongantach seo, a tha cho cudromach ann am beatha làitheil mòran dhaoine.’
Tha seinn nan salm Gàidhlig, a tha air a bhith aig teis-meadhan beatha eaglaise agus coimhearsnachd ann an Innse Gall fad linntean, gu sònraichte fon phrosbaig san taisbeanadh. Mhìnich aon neach a chuir ris an taisbeanadh, Alaig ‘Bhaltois’ Dòmhnallach, cho cudromach ’s a tha an traidisean dha, nuair a thuirt e, ‘Tha rudeigin gam dhùsgadh nuair a thig e chun nan sailm Ghàidhlig agus an loidhne ga cur a-mach. Chan eil e gu diofar càit' a bheil mi. Ma chluinneas mi seo, tha e gam tharraing air ais gu làithean m' òige ann an Stafainn. Air ais gu tachartasan toilichte...ach cuideachd tachartasan muladach. Tha, bha agus bidh seo a' toirt buaidh orm.’
Tha mòran dhe na clàraidhean fuaime, dealbhan agus bhidiothan a chaidh a dhèanamh mar phàirt dhen phròiseact nam bun-stèidh air an làrach-lìn agus an tasglann didseatach air-loidhne (aig www.seinn.org). Thèid CD agus leabhar le cuid dhe na clàraidhean fuaime fhoillseachadh nas fhaide ann an 2024 agus thèid an reic an cois an taisbeanaidh.
Mhìnich an Dr Wilkins: “Tha cànan mar dhòigh air an cultar a chur an cèill. Feumar an ceangal làidir a th’ aige ris na daoine, agus am pàirt a tha aig ceòl ann, aithneachadh agus a neartachadh san àm ri teachd ma tha sinn a’ dol a chumail cuid dhe na rudan as prìseile mu chultar na Gàidhlig beò.”
Tha i cuideachd ag ràdh, “Bha e sònraichte a bhith a’ dèanamh an rannsachaidh ann an Innse Gall. Tha mi air coinneachadh ri uiread de dhaoine brosnachail agus tha mi taingeil dhan h-uile duine a tha air a bhith an sàs ann agus air mo chuideachadh leis a’ phròiseact. Tha mi toilichte gu bheil an rannsachadh agus agus na foillseachaidhean a’ cur ri bhith a’ toirt dìon dhan traidisean àraid seo de sheinn.”
“Bidh mi ann nuair a dh’fhosglas e agus tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri tilleadh a Leòdhas agus coinneachadh ri feadhainn a chur ris a’ phròiseact. Bidh e fìor mhath na seinneadairean a bha an sàs sa phròiseact fhaicinn aig fosgladh an taisbeanaidh.”
“Cha bhiodh e comasach an taisbeanadh seo a chur air às aonais taic ionmhasail bho Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, Urras Charnegie agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig, agus bhon taic aig iomadh neach-obrach aig Museum agus Tasglann nan Eilean ann an Steòrnabhagh.”
Thèid tachartas fosglaidh a chumail air Dihaoine 19 Faoilleach bho 5:00-7:30f aig Museum nan Eilean. Tha e an-asgaidh agus bidh deochan ann do dhaoine.
’S iad na h-uairean fosglaidh aig Museum nan Eilean:
Diardaoin-Disathairne, 1-4f (gu 31 Màrt)
Dimàirt-Disathairne, 10-5f (bho 1 Giblean)
Là na Sàbaid-Diluain – dùinte
Gheibhear barrachd fiosrachaidh aig: www.seinn.org
Ma tha ùidh aig ionad sam bith anns an taisbeanadh a ghabhail an dèidh Gearran 2025, cuiribh brath gu Frances Wilkins.
Fios airson brathan naidheachd:
Dr Frances Wilkins, àrd-òraidiche ann an Eitn-eòlas Ciùil, Ionad Elphinstone, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain