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Member Since: 3/6/2006
Band Website: margaretstewart.com
Band Members: Margaret Stewart
St Kilda, where I spent time in my youth. I’ve climbed the mountains, scaled the cliffs, walked the glens, taken a breeches buoy accross the ’gap’ from the main island to An Dùn, traversed miles and miles around every part of the island, held puffins and fulmars in my hands, been attacked by skuas, felt the wind rush onto my face as I lay on top of the great cliffs behind Conchair and Oiseval.......... It is a time I will never forget, and I often wish I could return there again. Here are a few photographs of that wonderful archipelago, which is now abandoned, save for the St Kildan sheep and the thousands of birds, which the islanders relied on for their food, fuel and economy before evacuation of the remaining population of 36, in 1930.
The archipelago, which we Gaels call ’Hiort’, is the remains of a tertiary volcano, about 60 million years old, and lies approximately 65 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. The island group is renowned for its outstanding scenery, huge bird colonies, its history and abandoned village, its unique species of sheep, mouse and wren.
Influences: Our traditional music and songs are more than just a musical heritage, they are a way of life ! As was the old way, I learnt from an oral tradition and then took the songs straight to my heart. I learnt this singing style while I was growing up in the small community of Upper Coll on the Isle-of-Lewis and although I never set out to become a professional singer; it all just seemed to happen at a particular time in my life, I am now very proud that I retained the old ornamental singing style, and fortunate indeed that I have many opportunities to perform these songs around the world. It is a style of singing which has been passed down to us for many generations, but sadly, it is a dying art, and rarely heard nowadays.
Morag MacLeod of Scalpay (former lecturer in Gaelic song at the School of Scottish Studies), has been a great influence on my understanding of Gaelic Song in general, and through her encouragement I continue to research and collect songs from all areas of Gaelic Scotland.
My family, and in particular my grandfather, was a huge influence on my life - he lived with us until he died at the age of 94. He had been a crofter/fisherman for most of his life and was a perfectionist in everything that he did. I followed in his footsteps for much of my formative years and unconciously soaked up many of the old stories, songs, crofting, fishing and cultural traditions of my home island of Lewis.
My greatest musical influence, in the early years, growing up in Lewis was, without a doubt, the highly ornamental Psalm singing which I heard in the home each morning and evening, during worship, and in church each Sunday. I was also exposed to the traditional and melismatic singing style of Lewis singers at house ceilidhs (gatherings), weddings and social occassions. This kind of singing was never part of our musical education at school and was ignored throughout my education (as was my native language).
I travelled a lot after leaving Lewis and I was exposed to many different kinds of music. My years living in Venezuela had a huge effect on me with regard to music, dance, language, cuisine and many other things too numerous to mention. I am touched by all kinds of music and have a particular love of stringed instruments - lute, mandolin, various guitar styles, fiddle, harp, harpsichord etc.
The music of the Great Highland bagpipe holds a particular fascination for me and I have gathered many songs relating to the ancient Pibroch music (the so-called 'classical' music of the pipes). Although I sing many of these songs I never try to emulate the sound of the pipes.
I hesitate to name individual influences with regard to Gaelic song and singing, as much of it was subliminally acquired while growing up, although I do have recollections of many old folk and singers which I admired. Many of my strongest influences are, sadly, no longer with us but they are very much part of my life in song. In adulthood I continue to study archive recordings of Gaelic singers which were from the 1950s onwards and some of the material I have recently recorded has been influenced by these recordings.
SPECIAL TOO ARE THE FOLLOWING:- - my husband and our darling daughter, my parents, my brothers and their families, the Isle-of-Lewis, Scotland, the Gaelic language and my culture, Ireland and my great friends there, Milltown Malbay and Willie Clancy Week, Skippinish (can't stop myself from dancing when they play), the sea, the old folks, the ceilidh house (now gone forever), my good and faithful friends, the old story tellers, travel, my life in South America, my group of old pals in the West End Hotel on Thursday nights, Nairn, my dear neighbours Gordon and Muriel MacIntyre, Iain MacDonald and family, Ian Hardie and Viv, my new pals Maggie and Ken, my pal Christine Primrose, my garden, lilies, Islay Malt, orchids - oooh I LOVE orchids ..............
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Two Classic Recordings:
by
Margaret Stewart & Allan MacDonald
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