MacKENZIE Fiona
Duan Nollaig / A Gaelic Christmas

CDTRAX 320D

5018081032020
Greentrax
UK Regno Unito

 

Fiona Mackenzie is a former Gaelic Mod Gold Medal winner, and also received a Scots Trad Music Award in 2004. This is a unique double album of both traditional and contemporary Scottish Gaelic Christmas songs and carols.

Vocal harmonies are provided by Maggie MacDonald, Katie Mackenzie (who also plays clàrsach), Sarah Jane Scott, Morven MacLeod, Mark Thomson and James Graham. Capercaillie's Karen Matheson also guests on two tracks. Other well known musicians include Anna Massie (fiddle), John Goldie (guitar), Jim Drummond (drums), Ed MacFarlane (bass), Simon Welsh (fiddle), Hamish Napier (whistles, bamboo flute), Ronan Martin (fiddle), Gary Innes (accordion) and Charles V Clark (didgeridoo). Producer Irvin Duguid.

Fiona Mackenzie, a native of Morayshire, has lived in Dingwall for the last twenty years. After working in Gaelic Medium Education, she now works as the Mhàiri Mhòr Gaelic Song Fellow for the Highland Council and has truly taken the Gaelic language to heart.

Fiona won the premier award for Gaelic singing in Scotland - the Ladies Gold Medal (for fluent speakers) at the 2005 Mod in Stornoway. In 2004 she won the BBC Scotland Traditional Music Personality of The Year at the Scots Trad Awards. She was also nominated as Gaelic Singer Of The Year in 2005 and 2006.

Produced by the Mhàiri Mhòr Gaelic Song Fellowship for the Highland Council (in association with Greentrax Recordings) this double CD is the first recorded collection of Gaelic Christmas carols and songs for all ages.

Fiona has been inundated by requests for this material, in particular for Gaelic medium classes in Scottish schools to work with. Included are some brand new carols being performed for the first time.

This album should appeal to an audience who might not traditionally listen to Gaelic or folk music, whilst still remaining true to the Gaelic tradition. The album features some classically inspired pieces and an element of rock, as well as traditional Gaelic melodies and lyrics.