Strathnaver Museum & Mackay Country Community Trust Moving Times & Museum Tales
Fiona J Mackenzie - Dùthaich Mhic Aoidh Mackay Country Artist in Residence
Mod Gold Medallist and songwriter, Fiona J Mackenzie, is popular both for her performing and teaching of all styles of Gaelic Song, in the Highlands and overseas and she constantly strives to reach out and touch new audiences with her own classic style of both traditional and contemporary material. A winner of the prestigious International Burnsong Competition, which encourages new song writing in Scotland, she is a member of the new band to emerge from this initiative, The Kilmarnock Edition and has been developing her song writing extensively over the last two years. She has 3 CDs on the Greentrax label: Duan Nollaig, the only Gaelic Christmas double CD; A Good Suit of Clothes, released to celebrate 2009 Year of Homecoming in Scotland and most recently ‘Archipelago’, Songs of the Scottish Islands in Scots and Gaelic. She is currently the Gaelic Associate Artist for the National Theatre of Scotland.
I decided to entitle my residency “Dachaigh” or Gaelic for “Home”. “Home” in the wider sense. Keeping the school hostel system of past days in mind, the project examined, through new Gaelic song, what “home” means to different people. Drawing inspiration from people’s experiences, I decided to compose a ‘Song Cycle’, creating new words on an older subject, but on something which is as relevant today as it was in the last century. Song is a universal means of communication and conveys a multitude of emotions in its notes and inflections.
In order to draw inspiration from the landscape in particular, I spent time in Dùthaich MhicAoidh, watching, listening, imagining, thinking, writing – and singing. Workshops with primary school pupils produced some wonderful images on the theme of “Home” and what the children believed it to mean to them. Images of rainbows, open fires, cats, dogs and trees emerged suffused with a rosy glow - and glitter… Songs were sung of the land which is home to them; songs were sung of the things around them that make up their home. Pictures were taken of their home, their school, their land, their sea, the trees, all to make a home…
A workshop of waulking songs and puirt a beul also drew some lovely community feeling – a real home feeling, with all sections of the Sutherland community participating, from babes in arms to grannies and grandpas. Even those with no Gaelic can feel part of something which comes from home.
All of these activities inspired a 4 song “ Song Cycle”, in simple form, covering a lifetime, from babe in arms to the reminiscences of someone thinking of Home.
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Crònan an Eilthireach (Lullaby of the Exile) is perhaps as simple as mother singing to her baby, on the dawning of a new age or life, or perhaps a lament from an Exile from Home.
Litreachan (Letters) was Inspired by a chat with a veteran of the school hostel system who told me of the pain and delight of seeing – or not seeing - letters from home, on the board at school.
Na Maraichean Sior-Mhaireannach (The Eternal Mariners) is inspired by an afternoon on the beach at Stoer, watching all the different types of boats and sea faring vessels. Where was their home? Where was their master’s home?
Dhachaigh (Home). Remember the days gone past, remember where your home was and take it with you in your heart.
The residency also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with other artists in the Residency and forge new networks, new creative opportunities, see others Homes. Above all, I appreciate being given an opportunity - and space - to create a piece of Gaelic new song work which in turn made me think of my own perceptions of what Home means. In a time when Community is fluid and Family is fickle, it is good to focus on what has been, what is and what may be.
