Following the Tradition

Jenna Cumming

JENNA CUMMING has been tipped as a name to watch in Gaelic singing for over a decade now, even though she is still only in her early 20s. Her mother, Chrissie MacVicar, is a highly-regarded Gaelic singer in her own right. The Inverness-born singer has been a regular medal winner at both junior and senior Mod, and her debut CD, ‘Kintulavig’, was issued on the Macmeanmna label earlier this year. She is currently a student at Glasgow University.

NORTHINGS: Jenna, let’s start with the new album – how did you go about selecting the songs for that?

JENNA CUMMING: Most of the songs on the album were things that I have been singing at ceildihs. Since this was my first album, the idea was to get these songs on CD so that I could then move on and start learning new material. I deliberately chose a few songs that I hadn’t been singing already just for a bit of variety, and also so that anyone who was used to hearing me sing live also got to hear something new if they bought the record.

N: The vexed question of instrumental accompaniments with Gaelic song inevitably raises its head – describe what you decided to do about that?

JC: I have to hold my hands up here and say that I really had nothing to do with the instrumental accompaniments! That was all Mary Ann Kennedy’s work – Mary Ann and Nick Turner recorded and produced the album at their Watercolour Studio over in Ardgour.

N: But presumably you made your wishes known to her?

JC: Oh yes, we did discuss it beforehand, and I made it clear that I didn’t want anything too overpowering in that department. People are used to hearing me sing unaccompanied, and I didn’t suddenly want to swamp the voice with loads of instruments. A lot of people have said to me that I don’t need accompanying music and shouldn’t fall into that trap.

It is very important that I don’t fall into the trap of getting away from that unadorned, natural approach to the songs

N: That sounds like the Gaelic song purists speaking!

JC: My own view was that unaccompanied singing is fine for the established audience for Gaelic song, but we felt that if we wanted to reach a wider audience – or just people who like it done with backings – we did need some degree of accompaniment in there. Mary Ann was aware of what I wanted, and I think she has hit the nail on the head. The accompaniments are subtle.

N: It is a touchy issue, though, isn’t it?

JC: It is, yes, and I think there are two distinct camps now – there are a lot of people who tend to devalue just singing songs the way they were composed without accompaniment, and a lot of others who insist on doing them that way! I chose to go with some instruments for the recording, but having said that, for me it is very important that I don’t fall into the trap of getting away from that unadorned, natural approach to the songs.

N: How did you find working in the studio as compared to performing live?

JC: I really enjoyed it. It was very relaxed, and it was very different from singing in front of an audience. In some ways it wasn’t as nerve-wracking as performing live – I knew if I made a mistake I could just start again! It was a great experience, and I didn’t find the studio environment off-putting. You have to get up there and sing the song whatever your surroundings, and I focused on that.

N: Did the recording come out as you imagined it in your head?

JC: Well, we are back to instruments again, because I think initially I thought there would be less accompaniment! I think that is probably just because I am so used to singing on my own. However, I am very pleased with the way it came out. It was all new to me, and Mary Ann guided me a lot. I really value her opinions, and I was happy to follow her guidance.

N: I see you managed to sneak you mum in alongside Mary Ann on backing vocals – that’s not a bad pair of supporting voices, is it?

JC: Again that was Mary Ann’s suggestion to have mum sing with us, and it was lovely to get her on there, and to have James Graham as a guest as well.

N: How did you get started in singing Gaelic songs – presumably there was a considerable home influence there?

JC: Definitely. Mum has been a really big influence on me when it comes to singing. She has never forced the issue, and I think that was really important – she took the approach that she would encourage me, and if I wanted to do it, fine, but she wasn’t going to force me, and I think that did encourage me. Of course, I did want to do it, which was the crucial thing, and when there were times that I maybe lacked a wee bit of confidence or whatever, she was there to give me a wee push.

N: Did your performing career begin at the Mod?

JC: Yes, I started singing in public through the National Mod. My first one was in Dunoon in 1994, when I was 10. I got my first prize there, and the ball really started rolling from then. I had sung in school and so on, but that was really the starting point for me. Once I reached adult level, winning the medals was the next step.

N: Were the Mods a nervous experience for you, or did you take to the competition environment?

JC: I was nervous, but I think it helped that I started to win prizes from early on at adult level – I won the Traditional Medal at Largs in 2002 in my first senior year, and then the Gold Medal at Oban in 2003 and the Oban Times Gold Medal in 2004 in Perth.

N: What happened last year?

JC: I didn’t take part last year, except for singing with the Glasgow Gaelic Choir, and I have to say I really missed the solo competition. I don’t think I’m particularly a competitive person, but I love that buzz that it gives me, so I suspect I will be back competing in the future. With my studies I don’t think that I have time right now to learn competition pieces and so on, but I think I will be back. Janet McGregor, who teaches Gaelic at Millburn Academy, was my coach for the medals, and she is a Gold Medal winner herself. I don’t know that I would want to work with anyone else.

N: You mentioned the Glasgow Gaelic Choir – have you done a lot of choir singing?

JC: Not really. Last year was my first with the GG’s, and I was too young for the Inverness choir. It is different, but it is nice to be part of a group in that way, and I do enjoy it.

N: Did you receive formal education in Gaelic?

JC: I attended the Gaelic play school and then the Gaelic medium unit in Inverness, and I have just followed it through from there. I did it at secondary school, and I’m doing it at university as well. I’m very grateful to my parents for putting me through the Gaelic medium unit – I feel the language has opened a lot of doors to me.

N: What are you studying now?

JC: I’m doing a course in Scottish Studies at Glasgow University. I switched to that from a teaching degree at Jordanhill.

N: Not music, then?

JC: No. I didn’t really consider a music degree when I was making my choice. When I was younger I never really thought I might be good enough to go any further with music than just having it as a hobby.

N: Have you had a change of heart on that?

JC: In the past couple of years I have started taking it more seriously, yes, and that was really why I decided to switch from my teaching course. I found it clashed more and more with my singing, and I wanted to give that more priority. I couldn’t see that being any easier as a teacher, but teaching is always something I could consider going back to later if it doesn’t work out for me. I will still end up with a degree next summer, and we’ll see what happens than.

N: So music will take precedence once you finish university?

JC: I hope so. My plan is to give music a serious go, and I would love to come back and work in some capacity with the Gaelic language and culture in the Highlands.

(Jenna Cumming spoke to Kenny Mathieson)

© Kenny Mathieson, 2006

Link

• Macmeanmna