Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Friday 18 February 2005

IT SEEMED as if the whole of the Gaelic world turned out to Eden Court at the weekend for the annual Gaelic Society of Inverness concert. The bad weather did not seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of the Gaels to support the Society’s celebration on the theme of ‘The Eternal Surge of the Sea’.

The programme comprised sets from some of the best known Gaelic singers and musicians in the Highlands today, interspersed with readings of poetry and stories of the Gael from past and present. Allan Campbell fulfilled the role of Fear an Taighe with consummate ease as usual in these situations and Jeff Macleod as Society Chief, presented some thoughts and stories of his time involved with Gaeldom.

Duncan MacGillivray gave a nice ‘sgiobalta’ (tidy) set of tunes on the pipes to open the musical side of the evening. He was followed by Christine Primrose, demonstrating why she is regarded as one of the leading ‘doyennes’ of Gaelic music, particularly when she sang unaccompanied.

As usual at these events, bardachd or  poetry forms a very important part of these proceedings, and Skyeman Angus Peter Campbell presented some  of his own thought-provoking works on the theme of the sea. It was also very helpful to the non Gaelic speaking audience members to have a simultaneous English translation projected onto the back of stage – this also gave details of the songs as they were presented. A clear indication that the non-Gael was not to feel excluded from the  evening’s proceedings. The concert programme itself was also very helpful in this respect by having short descriptions of the songs themselves and where they originated from.

Arthur Cormack gave a beautifully relaxed and emotive performance, particularly with the rendition of  the well known and totally heartfelt ‘A Pheigi a Ghraidh’. I particularly enjoyed Arthur’s less well known sister, Lorna Cormack, in her rendition in her high soprano tone of a new song/hymn by Blair Douglas.

Blair also accompanied Arthur, along with Malcolm Jones on guitar, on several songs, and the highlight of the evening for me was his new composition ‘Tuinn nan Deur’ – ‘Waves of tears’ – a moving  lament composed for the recent storm tragedy in Uist.

The younger wave of Gaelic singers was represented by Rachel Walker with the group Skippinish, augmented by Malcolm Jones for the occasion. Whilst music and song was the main feature of the evening, dance was represented by the Clair Bryce and Meryl Campbell Dancers, who presented  a delightful new commission on the theme of the ‘Fisherman’s Ceilidh’.

While it was perhaps a shame that there were not more younger people in the audience to experience the – somewhat lengthy at 3 hours – programme, the  event was a veritable feast of Gaelic culture and we look forward to the next concert, wherever that maybe next year with the closure of Eden Court for refurbishment.

© Fiona MacKenzie, 2005