TRIBUTE TO FOLK LEGEND FROM GAELIC VOICES IN SWEET CHRISTMAS HARMONY Laoidh Loch Gàrmain (The Wexford Carol) Gaelic version of classic carol released as download charity single Monday 7th December 2015
The Highlands’ famous Watercolour Music studios in Lochaber release an exquisite reworking of one of the Celtic world’s favourite carols this week as a special download single, with proceeds going to the Mercy Corps. Gaelic singer and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy, who directs the music for this year’s Christmas carol service on BBC ALBA, is joined on the recording by award-winning Gaelic singer and composer Rachel Walker for a special translation of folk star John Renbourn’s version of the Wexford Carol.
Mary Ann and husband Nick Turner, co-director of the Watercolour studios, had commissioned Mary Ann’s mother, Gaelic song doyenne Kenna Campbell, to translate John’s beautiful alternative words to the carol as a remembrance of him. John – a member of folk-rock legends Pentangle and who sadly died earlier this year – was a regular visitor to the studio and a good friend to Nick’s young family. The song was an obvious choice when Mary Ann and the Gaelic Gospel choir, Soisgeul, were invited to perform the music for the service of lessons and carols, recorded by Demus Productions to be broadcast on Christmas Eve on BBC ALBA and again on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. And when Mary Ann and Rachel performed the simple but compelling a cappella version of ‘Laoidh Loch Gàrmain’, the reaction to the song was from choir and congregation was instant. Mary Ann said: “When we saw what an effect it had on folk, we wanted to get into the studio straightaway to record - John’s words are so much in tune with the Celtic world that Nick and I had always thought a Gaelic version would work well. We like to think John would have enjoyed Kenna’s gentle reworking of his poetry.”
Rachel Walker, Gaelic Singer of the Year 2014 and former student of Kenna’s, said: “Kenna has always been so generous with her gift for creating beautiful new Gaelic songs of her translations. We wanted the recording to serve a purpose as well, so we’ve teamed up with the Mercy Corps, who will receive half the proceeds from all sales of ‘Laoidh Loch Gàrmain’.”
Nick Turner said: “John’s beautiful words in his Wexford Carol have always heralded Christmas in our home, but they are also very human, very aware of darkness as well as light in the world. The funds raised for the Mercy Corps will help them in their vital work in the most desperate of situations around the world.”
