Best of the Bàrdachd

The oldest choir in Gaeldom, Oban Gaelic Choir, launches a CD recording of its summer Stòras concert, featuring the forgotten songs of Argyll’s Gaelic bards, at Skippinish Ceilidh House on Monday.

The song collection will be released during the 125th anniversary of the choir, which has had an uninterrupted history since 1892.

Stòras has been several years in the preparation by conductor of 14 years, musician and composer Sileas Sinclair, who arranged 10 traditional locally-composed songs for the four-part choir performance.

Sileas’s arrangements, full of beautiful choral harmonies and lively rhythms, put the work of Argyll’s Gaelic bards in a modern setting, while letting their traditional origins shine through.

The Stòras (Gaelic: ‘Riches’) repertoire covers a wide range of forms and emotions, from the adoring love of A’ Dhòmhnaill nan Dòmhnall to the poignant and utterly lovelorn Gur tu mo Bhean Chomain.

The programme included the individual tragedy of Maighdean Loch nan Eala, the wider laments for lost community of Cumha Cruachainn and Taobh Loch Obha, the rousing battle-song Oran do Bhonaparte and the haunting piobaireachd-based Colla mo Rùn, the Piper’s Warning to his Master.

Interspersed with these varied pieces are a sprinkling of up-tempo puirt-a-beul and waulking songs, and a range of individual performances by some of the choir’s talented soloists, including Mary Catherine MacLean’s solo Alasdair a Laoigh Mo Chèille written by Dìorbhail Nic a’ Briuthainn, Luing, around 1643.

The evening was conducted by Sileas Sinclair, and accompanied by local musicians Finlay Wells, Archie MacAllister, Lorne MacDougall and Angus MacColl.

Oban Gaelic Choir’s ceilidh and CD launch begins at 7.30pm on Monday November 20, with entry by donation.