MAGGIE MacINNES

Port Bàn

_{Philippe Cousin}

Although born in Glasgow, singer and harpist Maggie MacInnes comes from a long line of Gaelic singers from the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, the most famous of whom is undoubtedly her own mother, Flora MacNeil, who passed on her extensive repertoire.

Over the years Maggie has been part of several bands including Ossian, Fuaim and Eclipse First and has performed in many countries in Europe and North America. She has composed the music for several BBC Scotland documentaries. In 2004 she was voted best Gaelic singer of the year.

Her new album Port Bàn is the ninth in a long series that began in 1984. It is dedicated to her mother Flora, who died in 2015 and whom Maggie has always considered as her main source of inspiration. The album is named after the bay near the family home in Barra. The recording of this album is a true labour of love, as the majority of the Gaelic songs come from her mother's repertoire.

But she added her own stamp to some of Flora's most famous songs: Gràdh geal mo chrìdh or O Chraobh nan Ùbhal. There are also several songs popularised by Karen Matheson whose own grandmother Elizabeth MacNeil was also from Barra. The waulking songs: 'S iomagh rud a chunnaic / Faca tu saor an t-sàbhaidh and Cha Teid mise / 'N Robh thu 'sa bheinn?

Only two texts in English by Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet: The Bonnie Lass of Albany and the Jacobite anti-war song The Highland Widow's Lament. And then the superb love song Gur muladach sgith mi. The filial bond is reinforced here with the participation of Calum and Ruaraidh Alasdair Park, Maggie's two sons. Also Brian McAlpine on piano and accordion, Anna Massie on guitar and voice, Chris Waite on whistle and bodhrán and Angus Lyon on accordion, piano and fiddle.

Maggie performs beautiful songs with rare emotion and extreme sensitivity. A real beauty.

Maran Music MARCD06 - www.maggiemacinnes.co.uk