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A Collection of Blair Douglas's Music and Songs

Manran, a book of Blair Douglas's best-loved music and songs, is published by Skye company, Macmeanmna. This publication has been eagerly anticipated and given the popularity of Blair's work, has been very well received.

This is the first music collection of Blair's to be published and among the nearly 50 compositions featured are such classics as Kate Martin's Waltz, Solus m'aigh, Nelson Mandela's Welcome to the City of Glasgow, Màiri Ruadh a' Dannsa, An Cocaire Beag and Ruith na Gaoith. Where appropriate, there are pipe settings for tunes something which will be welcomed given the growing popularity of a number Blair's compositions among solo pipers and pipe bands.

The Manran Collection is available from www.gaelicmusic.com, and a range of retail outlets.

Mànran is a Gaelic word and in Edward Dwelly's remarkable Gaelic dictionary this definition is given:- Mànran, -ain, -an, s. .m. Tuneful sound, melody. 2 Humming of a song or tune, cooing. 3 Entertainment, feasting. 4 Blandishment, dalliance, amorous discourse. 5 Report, rumour, intelligence, news. 6 Murmur. 7 Love-song or sonnet. 8 Humming song. 9 Dandering.

On Saint Andrew's Day (30th November 2009) at the Town House in Inverness the Highland Branch of the Saltire Society presented its award for an outstanding contribution to Highland culture to musician Blair Douglas for his composition the Gaelic Mass, An Aifreann Ghàidhlig.

The Gaelic Mass was premiered as part of the Blas Festival in St Andrew's Cathedral, Inverness on 4 September. This was followed by performances on the following two days in FortWilliam and Portree. St Columba's Cathedral in Oban hosted another performance, as a closing event to the Year of Homecoming celebrations, on 30 October 2009.

The work features the six traditional elements of the Mass, preceded and followed by four hymns and three instrumental pieces. The whole piece lasts around 45 minutes.

The performance of the Mass featured Paul MacCallum and Maggie MacDonald, with the Inverness Gaelic Choir and traditional and classical musicians. The Mass has been described as firmly rooted in the Celtic tradition, fusing indigenous and classical musical genres, more akin to folk masses than to the classical European forms.

Born and raised on Skye, Blair Douglas has an outstanding international reputation among traditional musicians. As an accordionist and keyboard player, he was a founder member of the bands Runrig, Mactalla and Cliar as well as being a recording artist in his own right.

Celtology, his first solo album, was issued in 1984. It has been followed by Beneath the Beret (1990), A Summer in Skye (1996), Angels from the Ashes (2004) and Stay Strong (2008). His compositions range widely over the musical spectrum and include the popular "Kate Martin's Waltz".

In December 2008 Blair Douglas was voted Composer of the Year in the MG Alba Trad Music Awards. The first printed collection of his music was published this year under the title Manran.

The Highland Branch of the Saltire Society is delighted and proud to recognise the achievements of Blair Douglas.

Previous recipients of the Award have been Mary Ann Kennedy (1999), Bridget Mackenzie (2000), Eric Allan (2002), Katherine Stewart
(2005) and Professor Norman N. Gillies OBE (2007).

  BLAIR DOUGLAS has been voted Composer of the Year in the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2008!

You can watch the whole awards ceremony on the BBC by clicking HERE

Or you can read what the papers say about the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2008 at The Scotsman Online

There's also some Photos of the Awards Ceremony which you can see by visiting the Photo Gallery section, and Video Clips in the Video section - Check out the links in the Menu above.

BLAIR DOUGLAS has been nominated for Composer of the Year in the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2008. The awards will be presented on Saturday 6th December, at the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow.

The Skye based musician and composer is internationally acclaimed, with musical compositions such as Kate Martin's Waltz and Solus m'Aigh that have resonated across the globe and across the genres. Blair Douglas released his fifth studio album, Stay Strong in June 2008. Blair is still, in many ways, Gaelic culture’s best kept secret.
 
Voting Timetable :- 3rd November - 21st November
To vote online for Blair please CLICK HERE

Otherwise, you can download the voting form as a pdf or Word file from www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards or call 0131 441 3135 if you need a form sent to you.

The Danish RecArt Music label released STAY STRONG in early September. Please tell all your Danish friends about it!!!

Based in the town of Aarhus, Recart is a independent Danish record company whose goal is to publish and disseminate music and entertainment of the highest quality.

STAY STRONG TRACKS

Martyn in Mind - written in memory of master musician, Martyn Bennett.

Soldier’s Lullaby - written for Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed in Iraq.

Lewis Love - in memory of those who died in the Iolaire disaster of 1919.

Rester Fort, la Nouvelle Orleans - Stay Strong, New Orleans. Written after Hurricane Catriona devastated the great city.

s’Barail Leam - (That's what I think!) - a humourous song about the vanity of the Skye male!

Atchafalaya Morn - the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana comprises an area of 860,000 acres of swamps, lakes and water prairies. A magical and wonderous place, it is the largest and last great river-basin swamp.

Tàladh an Iasgair - (The Fisherman's Lullaby).

Acadie, Sing Me Home - a song that links the Celtic and Cajun diaspora.

Ceitidh Fiona’s Waltz - written for my young daughter.

Mister James Brown’s Welcome to the Ceilidh House” aka “Keep the Celidh Funky - my tribute to the Godfather of Soul.

Baile Mabou, nam Mìle Bàidh, (Mabou of the Boundless Hospitality)/The Mabou Maestro - in tribute to John Morris Rankin, a musician's musician.

The Hot Damn Special - a Cajun/Celtic two step - named after one of the worst drinks I've ever tasted!

Tonn nan Deur (Wave of Tears) - in memory of the family members who died in Uist during the great storm of 2005.

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DAILY RECORD NEWSPAPER
Albums of the week: June 13th
Blair Douglas
Stay Strong

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ALBUM opener Martyn In Mind is perhaps the most stirring piece of traditional Scots music I've heard for a long time. Dedicated to the late Martyn Bennett, its mix of Native American beats and bagpipes raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
Gavin Rossdale

Blair has moved on from playing accordion waltzes by some considerable distance. In fact if you add this album with the last one he's covered more miles than Alan Wicker, picking up musical friends and edgy styles to include in his own creations. This is getting into full-blown 'international' territory and deserves to score an international audience.

He's a kinda Scottish Dr.John though he leaves the gruff vocals to Michael Marra.

Not only a brilliant accordion player, but an all-round musician, songwriter and composer.

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Blair has been working on the music for a Mass in Gaelic which will be premeired at the BLAS Festival in 2009.

Firmly rooted in the Celtic tradition, the Mass will explore and develop differing musical themes. It will feature a blend of traditional instruments such as clarsach, fiddle, flute, and pipes, along with orchestral accompaniment, organ, and keyboards. Solo and choral voices will also feature.

To be afforded the opportunity through musical expression to compose and share the beauty, joy and emotions of the sacred text is something very special and unique. I believe that it will be a work which will provide solace, joy, and strength to both worshipper and listener.

Click here to go to Macmeanmna's website.