To organise a wedding is one thing and it brings with it many challenges. But to organise one which is to be the centrepiece of a major festival with hundreds of guests, at a unique location such as a nature centre, is something completely different. However, that is the challenge willingly accepted by Gaelic singer Margaret Stewart who was commissioned to deliver one of the showpiece events at Blas 2012.

The 2012 festival’s annual commission was awarded to Margaret and her ensemble and they were tasked with delivering four performances which would be highlighted in the festival programme. The Highland Wedding was the theme chosen by Margaret, who is currently Musician in Residence at the Gaelic College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, on Skye.

Drawing on her extensive expertise as a Gaelic singer and collector, Margaret has chosen to explore various themes connected with the place of the Highland wedding in local society through the ages. Drawing on her knowledge of Gaelic music and song, particularly through her familiarity with the Tobar an Dualchais project, Margaret has assembled a multi-talented group of musicians who will help her explore love, loss and disappointment, flirtation, wooing, night-visiting, humour and dance.

The wedding will be consummated (for want of a better word) on the opening night of the 2012 festival at the unique location of Magnus House at the Aigas Field Centre hosted by Sir John and Lucy Lister-Kaye, owners of the nature centre.

Joining Margaret will be some of the best of the Highland’s musical talent: Iain MacFarlane on fiddle and box, Ingrid Henderson (clàrsach), Allan Henderson (fiddle and piano), and Angus Nicolson on the pipes.

Donna MacRae, Blas Director said: “It is now firmly established as one of the Blas traditions that we have an outstanding piece of work to launch the event and to set the tone. I am absolutely certain that Margaret Stewart and her musicians will provide us with another outstanding start to the Festival; for all that the preparations for this Highland wedding, as with any other, will be frenetic until the last minute. Not only will the wedding itself be memorable, but the location for our opening night could not be more spectacular and we are delighted that Sir John and Lady Lucy will be our hosts. Luckily for them, it’s a wedding they won’t have to pay for!”

As long as the marriage survives the opening night, its further consummation will continue in true Highland style (the best Highland weddings lasted more than one evening) and will go on tour to a number of other locations: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye, Saturday, September 8; Poolewe Village Hall on Monday, September 10 and finally Nairn Community Centre on Tuesday, September 11, with all the performances starting at 7.30pm.

Further information on the Blas programme is available from www.blas-festival.com.

A’ Bhanais Ghàidhealach ga rèiteach

Do neach sam bith a tha air a bhith a’ deisealachaadh suidheachadh bainnse, tha fhios gur iad na ceithir seachdainnean mu dheireadh an fheadhainn as frionnasaiche. Agus sin far a bheil an seinneadair Maighread Stiùbhart agus a cuideachd an dràsta agus iad gan cur fhèin ann an sunnd airson na Bainnse Ghàidhealaich aig Fèis Bhlas 2012.

Chaidh comisean sònraichte na bliadhna seo de ceithear cuirmean ciùil a bhuileachadh air an t-seinneadair Gàidhlig, Maighread Stiùbhart, a’ tha air mhuinntireas an-dràsta aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, mar ‘Ceòladair na Colaiste’. Thagh i ‘A’ Bhanais Ghaidhealach’, tre na linntean, mar chuspair.

Thèid toradh a cuid obrach obrach fhoillseachadh mar phrìomh thachartas Blas na bliadhna seo air a’ chiad oidhche dhen Fhèis, Dihaoine 7 Sultain, ann an suidheachadh fìor eireachdail, Taigh Mhànuis, Ionad Nàdair Èigeis, faisg air a’ Mhanachain. Thèid fàilte a chur air luchd na bainnse aig an ionad le Sir John agus Lucy Lister-Kaye, leis a bheil an t-ionad nàdair.

Ann a bhith a’ rèiteach na bainnse, bidh Maighread a’ cleachdadh an eòlais a’ th’aice air a cuid cultar, agus an stòras de dh’òrain agus ceòl air an robh i ‘g obair cheana, na h-Eòlaiche air Òrain Gàidhlig, air pròiseact Tobar an Dualchais. Bidh an oidhche luma làn de cheòl agus òrain a’ tha ceangailte ri gaol, call agus briseadh-dùil, sùgradh, suiridhe, caithris na h-oidhch’, àbhachdas agus danns’.

Bidh cuid den luchd-ciùil as ainmeile air a’ Ghàidhealtachd còmhla ri Maighread; Iain MacPhàrlain (fidheal agus bocsa-ciùil), Ingrid NicEanruig (clarsach), Ailean MacEanruig (meur-chlàr agus fidheal), Aonghas MacNeacail (a’ phìob Ghaidhealach agus a’ phìob-bheag). Ma bha rèiteach riamh ri dhèanamh air banais, bidh Màiread air obair latha a thòiseachadh mas cuir i ceann is casan air an fheadhain sin.

Thuirt Donna NicRath, Stiùiriche na Fèise: “Tha e na chleachdadh aig Blas a nis a bhith a’ cur chùisean air bhog le sàr oidhcheanan ciùil air am fasdadh tro choimisean. Tha mi dhen bharail gum bi Maighread agus a cuideachd air a cheart ìre de dh’àbhachdas agus toileachas a thabhann dhuinn sa thachair aig Fèisean roimhe seo mas bi a’ Bhanais deiseil air oidhche an fhosglaidh am bliadhna. Tha àite air leth aig a’ Bhanais a-measg nan Gàidheal agus tha mi cinnteach gur e deagh phòsadh a bhios ann eadar a bhith an cuideachd an luchd-ciùil as ainmeile agus aig a bheil uidhir de thàlantan, agus a bhith ann an suidheachadh cho buileach àraid ris an ionad nàdair. ‘S iongantach gu robh banais ann a bha riamh coltach ri seo.”

Fhad sa sheasas am pòsadh seachad air a chiad oidhche, (agus bidh sinn beò san dòchas), bidh a’ Bhanais Ghàidhealach a’ dol air thuras feadh na Gàidhealtachd gu Slèite (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig) Disathairne 09 Sultain, Poll Iù oidhche Luain (10mh) agus an uairsin a dh’Inbhir Narann, anns an ionad choimhearsnachd Dimairt an 11mh.

Tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu phrògram Bhlas bho www.blas-festival.com.

Source: Blas Festival