“The Glen of Muses”
Gleann na Ceolraidh
a celebration of the life and work of
Margaret Fay Shaw
Ceolas & Gleann na Ceolraidh
Trusadh nan Fonn
Gathering in.
22-
Last year’s conference about Margaret Fay Shaw’s work, proved highly successful with 59 people attending.
The proceedings took the form of lectures/visits/workshops and cèilidhs.
The key message given by all speaking was the importance of South Uist as a treasure chest of the Gaelic culture.
Now in retrospect Ceolas would like to continue to explore the contribution that collections from South Uist and Eriskay have had into national and international archives – the warp.
Gleann na Ceolraidh want to explore with the Community and with interested visitors, the wealth of material still to be documented –the weft.
Stories, songs and photos have been collected before and after Margaret Fay Shaw’s Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist was published. Names that come to mind from the past are Father Allan, Calum Maclean, Alan Lomax, Werner Kissling and Paul Strand, standing proud alongside are the communities’ own bards, singers and musicians.
The proposed ‘trusadh’ or ‘gathering in’ will weave together warp and weft – the
community and the collections -
We will explore this in the context of the community and the environment of South Uist and Eriskay, and we invite you to participate.
Margaret Fay Shaw was born in Pennsylvania USA in 1903. She spent 1921 at school in Helensburgh where she encountered the folk song collector Marjorie Kennedy Fraser. At 21 years of age Margaret first visited the Hebrides where she heard unaccompanied Gaelic song for the first time. She returned to travel the length of the Outer Hebrides two years later.
In 1928 Margaret went to live with Mairi and Peigi Macrae in North Glendale, South Uist where she wrote down words and music of many songs known by the sisters and their neighbours. Margaret also took a store of now classic still photographs and cine film portraying the way of life in Uist in the 1930s.'
Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist' was published in 1955 and is now in its third edition. Margaret married the Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell, who was then working in Barra and soon bought the Isle of Canna, where they went to live in 1938 and remained ever since. Dr Campbell died in 1996 and is buried in Canna. Margaret Fay Shaw died in 2003, aged 101 and is buried at Hallan in South Uist beside the Macrae sisters.
This conference is a celebration of that happy collaboration between Margaret Fay
Shaw, her husband and her many friends in South Uist. It is held around Loch Boisdale
where most of the songs and photographs originated. It includes a visit to her grave
at Hallan and a walk with local guides around North Glendale -
The three day event includes lectures by friends and acquaintances of Miss Shaw, walks, demonstrations and film shows (including her own classic film). An exhibition of Margaret Fay Shaw's photographs is held in Kildonan Museum, where a digitised copy of her archive will be officially lodged by Hugh Cheape, representing the National Trust for Scotland who now own and manage the Isle of Canna and the Campbell legacy.
The event also sees the launch of a new CD of songs from Margaret Fay Shaw's book 'Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist' recorded (according to her wishes) and performed live by her friends Mod Gold medalist Paul McCallum from North Glendale, and the distinguished cellist Vivien Mackie.
Trusadh nam Fonn will be a follow on from the successful conference held in 2007 which celebrated the work of Margaret Fay Shaw. At 21 Margaret first visited the Hebrides where she heard unaccompanied Gaelic song and in 1928 she went to live with sisters Mairi and Peigi MacRae in North Glendale , South Uist, where she wrote down the words to many of the songs known to the sisters. Margaret also took a now classic store of still photographs and cine film portraying the way of life in 1930's Uist
One of the speakers, Dr Margaret MacKay, from the School of Scottish Studies made the following
statement: "South Uist has been notable in Folklore collection for the original material found". This inspired the team to follow on with Trusadh nam Fonn.
Dr Margaret Bennett will speak on " How to Pass on Local Tradition to a New Generation".
Margaret Callan will focus on "The Social Context of the Gaelic Oral Tradition." Workshops will Consist of a selection of songs which reflect the historical context that led to their creation.
Angus John MacDonald will share his experiences of collecting in the Uists.
Magda Sagarzazu from the National Trust in Canna will describe how her work in maintaining the collection keeps it authentic.
Paul McCallum will demonstrate how songs change from what is collected to what is in current use.
The two days of Trusadh nam Fonn will include talks, walks and workshops.
FRIDAY 22nd AUGUST: 2008
1600 Registration
1900 Dinner
2000 Film -
SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST
1000 Dr Margaret Bennett "Passing on Tradition to a
New Generation"
1130 Margaret Callan "The Social Context of the Gaelic Oral
Tradition"
1300 Lunch
1400 Visit to Kildonan/Bornish/Howmore with local guides.
1900 Evening Meal followed by Cèilidh
SUNDAY 24th AUGUST
0930 Service at St Michael's Church, Eriskay
1015 Visit to the grave of Fr Allan MacDonald
1130 Is Folklore the core of a Nation's Identity?
1300 Lunch
1400 Workshops: Dr. Margaret Bennett, Margaret Callan, Magda
Sagarzazu, Angus John MacDonald, Paul McCallum.
1600 Plenary session .
2000 Informal session in Polochar Inn.