A group of talented musicians are spreading some Christmas cheer while raising funds towards delivering Gaelic opportunities to Skye’s young people.
In November last year, community musician, music tutor and accordionist Iseabail Strachan penned a joyful festive song with her mother Mary and sister Ester.
With a group of fellow musicians, singers and pupils from Bun Sgoil Shlèite, the song called ‘Seinn an Glag, Tha ‘n Nollaig a’ Tighinn’ was recorded in various venues in Skye and a video was made in time for Christmas 2022.
The track was mixed by Iseabail’s brother Aonghas of Niteworks and released as a single on Bandcamp.
The song focuses on the joy of Christmas, of friendship, music, snow falling on treetops and the sun glistening on the hill.
The children sing about building a snowman and Màiri Strachan and Kirsteen Ghreumach add their voices to describe a cèilidh around a fire and having a toast.
This year Iseabail is re-releasing the song in the hope to maximise sales in the run-up to Christmas.
“I had the idea of writing a new Gaelic Christmas song when I was entering the annual
Radio 3 Christmas Carol competition last November,” she explained.
“I wrote a melody to go with the English poem and sent it off but my recording was not chosen for the shortlist.
“Then I had the idea it would be great to write something in Gaelic and this melody came into my head.
”I began playing it on the box and, once I started playing, I couldn’t get it out of my head.”
Profits made from download sales will go to Fèis na Linne, a community-led organisation based in Sleat which creates opportunities for young people to participate in and celebrate the Gaelic language, music and arts.
The recording features a string section made up of Breakish musicians Lis Phillips (fiddle), Keri Skye (double bass) and Ester Strachan (fiddle) and an accordion trio of Iseabail and pupils Elliot Chung and Aonghas Iain Ferguson from north Skye, Fèis na Linne attendees and Sleat musicians Seonaidh Forrest on ukulele and Conal MacIllebhraighe on guitar.
Iseabail, who is passionate about making music inclusive and aims to spread joy, inspiration and a sense of community with others, added: “I really hope lots of young people will sing the song in the run-up to Christmas.
“I have uploaded a special sing-along version of the video onto my YouTube channel.
The track is available from Bandcamp and only costs £1.”
https://iseabailstrachan.bandcamp.com/track/seinn-an-glag-tha-n-nollaig-a-tighinn and the accompanying video is available to view at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCSLciJYE-c.
Singalong version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMLRXLZSGo4.
Photograph: Pupils from Bun Sgoil Shlèite joined local singers and musicians to record Seinn an Glag, Tha ‘n Nollaig a’ Tighinn. NO_F49_SkyeChristmasSong_23_GaelicMusicians_Seinn an Glag Tha’n Nollaig a’ Tighinn choir photo