Ailie Robertson : Iain MacFarlane & Ingrid Henderson : Maggie MacInnes : Sìleas

Ailie Robertson Ailie will present a programme drawn from her repertoire of favourite tunes from the Scottish and Irish traditions. She is also a prolific composer of highly original material, displaying “otherwise unimagined possibilities for the Celtic Harp“. Iain MacFarlane & Ingrid Henderson Together these musical stalwarts create a stunning sound, reflective of the beautiful, culture-rich West Highlands that continue to shape them. Based mainly on fiddle and harp they combine years of performing experience and a genuine love and understanding of the tradition to produce a sound which leaves you enriched and enlightened. They bring an absolute joy to their live performances, complementing each other’s musical attributes with intuitive musicality. Stories and anecdotes about the melodies and humorous recollections enhance MacFarlane & Henderson superbly fluent, always expressive and engaging music. “Always a treat for the ears and the soul” Maggie MacInnes Maggie will be performing much loved favourite songs from her vast repertoire in the many albums she has recorded over the years to celebrate this special 40th anniversary of the Harp Festival. A singer and clarsach player herself, she has travelled widely with her music and has been involved with many groups and projects. She composed music for Celtic Connections New Voices which led to a BBC eight part TV series and CD called Oran na Mna (a Woman’s Song). Her latest, and sixth solo album, Port Bàn, was released in January 2020 and is a tribute to her mother, Flora MacNeill. " raw heartfeltness that is nothing short of captivating” Sìleas (Mary Macmaster and Patsy Seddon) Mary and Patsy first met during a Clarsach Society summer school in 1977 and then again in 1981 in Edinburgh University’s Celtic Studies Department. They shared a love of Scottish and Gaelic music and song and began playing together, sparking off each other’s ideas and composing their own pieces to add to the rich seam of Scottish music. After graduating in 1985, they toured extensively, releasing several recordings as Sìleas and with the groups Clan Alba and The Poozies. In Sìleas, the intricacy of their interwoven harps is heard in its most pure and beautiful form alongside the magical harmonies of their Gaelic and Scots song. Over the last decades they have inspired many, taking the clarsach to places “it may never recover from”! Concert links will be emailed to you shortly before the Festival 19:00-19:30 Harp to Harp pre-concert conversation: Janette Bain talks to Isobel Mieras about her life and association with The Clarsach Society Music from 19:30, with an interval All concerts will be available to watch at your leisure until midnight on Monday 26th April

until 9 April 2021

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