Farr Hall, Farr, Saturday 25 September 2004

WHEN YOU listen to Maggie MacInnes singing her Gaelic Songs live, you really get the feeling that she’s singing from personal experience – every single song, from laments to slightly bawdy waulking songs! From her first song to the last set of the evening, the audience was put through an emotional wringer – in a pleasant sense – and emerged feeling uplifted and relaxed.

Maggie, who comes from a long line of esteemed Gaelic singers, not the least of whom is her mother Flora MacNeil, gave a relaxed performance on stage, and she enjoyed in particular the instrumental sets offered by her band.

Band isn’t a good enough word for her accompanists – all superlative musicians in their own right. We were treated to the fine fiddling of Charlie McKerron, sensitive and yet evocative keyboard playing from Brian McAlpine, foot-stomping pipe sets and haunting whistle airs from Finlay MacDonald, and beautifully sensitive guitar from Kevin MacKenzie.

At times in the evening one might have wondered if the musicians were being tested in having to cope with guitar strings breaking in the middle of a beautifully arranged Gaelic lament and a glass leaking water all over the electrically laden stage area! We were also treated to a spontaneous rendition of some extemporised ‘lounge music’ from McAlpine while MacKenzie changed the aforementioned string – a comedy moment which could hardly have been scripted better!

Maggie’s’ songs, some well known, others less so, were all arranged and delivered in a beautifully sensitive manner. The accompaniments never detracted from the emotional content, and there were more than one or two watery eyes after her rendition of the beautiful lament “Chan e caoidh Mhic Shiridh” and also of the beautiful love song ” Thug mi gaol do’n fhear bhan”.

There is no pretension in Maggie’s’ singing – these are songs sung from the heart and from a background of family and personal experience. We might have liked to have heard a bit more of her beautiful clarsach playing , or have her join with the band in some of the superlatively rendered marches, Strathspeys and reels, but they were a joy to listen to anyway.

A great night, with great music from five great musicians, in a great wee hall – perfect for a concert such as this. More of this please, Farr Management Committee.

© Fiona MacKenzie, 2004

Related Link:

• Maggie MacInnes