ORAN Bagraidh is the first single to be released as part of the Knockengorroch Off Site residency that took place in Galloway back in September.
The residency brought together 10 traditional poets and musicians with the aim of creating a new arrangement of the Galloway Gaelic song, Oran Bagraidh – or the Song of Defiance. The song is believed to be the only surviving example of the now-extinct dialect of Galloway Gaelic which was spoken across south-west Scotland up until the 18th century.
Artists involved included award-winning Scots/Gaelic singer Josie Duncan (above), lauded Irish song archaelogist Lorcan Mac Mathuna, former Welsh poet laureate and singer Gwyneth Glyn, celebrated Irish Sean-Nós singer Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, Belfast fiddler and composer Conor Caldwell, ancient instrument virtuoso Barnaby Brown, poet, singer and performance artist MacGillivray, widely published Gaelic poet Rody Gorman and medieval Welsh duo Bragod.
As much of the song is unintelligible to modern Gaelic speakers, translations vary but it is generally agreed to be a revenge song for an unpaid ransom following the murder of a significant person.
Artists involved in the residency also worked on original compositions inspired by Oran Bagraidh, the landscape and each other. Taking the theme of multiple identities they explored commonalities and differences between languages, regional histories and musical sensibilities, dipping into traditional, experimental and electronic.
The single is a preview to the full album Oran Bagraidh that was recorded during the residency and which will be officially launched in February.
For more information go to www.oranbagraidh.com
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