Fiona Mackenzie
The Kitchen Ceilidh
Click here to read the Gaelic Translation
Fiona J Mackenzie (not the Gress Fiona Mackenzie of Mackenzie Sisters!!) lives in Dingwall and is the Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellow for Highland Council. Fiona is a native of Morayshire on the East Coast of Scotland, a graduate of Aberdeen University and grew up immersed in Scottish Folk Culture. It was only when she moved to Ross-shire in 1989 that she discovered her interest in the Gaelic Culture.
She began her singing career with Dingwall Gaelic Choir and shortly after that moved onto a solo career. Realising that her feeling for the language was more than a passing interest she studied Gaelic on an Intensive two year course in Inverness. She has 2 CDs to her name - " Astair" released in 2000 and 'Seinn o ho ro Seinn', released in 2003 - this is a teaching resource designed to help everyone learn Gaelic song, with sung and spoken versions of 40 popular Gaelic songs.
Fiona is hoping that people listening to her shows on Scottish Internet Radio will learn more of the Gaelic culture as well as other Folk cultures and is looking forward to the opportunity of making Gaelic as a language more accessible that it has ever been before.
The Highland Council's Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship has launched a new Gaelic song teaching resource .Entitled "Seinn o ho ro Seinn", the venture, which has been part funded by the Scottish Arts Council, is designed to encourage more people, particularly young people, to sing Gaelic songs.
The Mairi Mhor Fellow, Fiona Mackenzie said: "We wanted to find a way of enabling as many people as possible to participate inclusively in Gaelic singing, regardless of their geographical location or lack of tutorial opportunities. Many children, young people and adults, like to participate in Mods and Feisean but are unable to find tutors, either for Gaelic or music. I looked at the various resources available and wondered if it was possible to produce a good quality CD, comprising many of the most popular Gaelic songs we hear today, particularly at Mods. Following our consultations with Highland Schools, tutors, An Comunn Gaidhealach, Feisean nan Gaidheal, and An Drochaid Traditional Music Organisation and young people we decided to produce a quality CD, comprising many of the most popular Gaelic songs together with the accompanying words and translations.
"Seinn o ho ro Seinn" consists of a 2 CD set presented in a DVD style box, together with a comprehensive book of words and translations. Fiona added:". Particularly useful to the young Gaelic singers of the future is the fact that the CDs include all the songs prescribed for Mod 2004, in Perth. " We hope that this will encourage many more young people to participate in next years and all succeeding Mods" I selected 40 of the most popular songs prescribed at National Mods, particularly for junior competitors, although many are suitable for adults too as they include sea songs, lullabies and laments too. I then recorded the An Comunn version of all the songs, without accompaniment so that the melody is quite clear. I asked Arthur Cormack of Feisean nan Gaidheal if he would record the spoken versions of the songs which he was very happy to do. Each sung song is therefore followed by the spoken version so it is very easy to hear the correct pronunciation."
The CD was launched officially at last years Anniversary Mod in Oban . Complimentary copies have ben distributed to all schools in Highland Council area and is also available in the shops through Fiona herself at The Education Offices, Castle St, Dingwall,- contact 01349 863441. or e mail fiona.mackenzie2@highland.gov.uk priced at £13 Also available from Comhairle nan Leabhraichean on www.gaelicbooks.net and at www.musicscotland.com
Will also be available from Scottish Internet Radio!!!
Cunntas air Fiona NicCoinnich:
Tha Fiona J NicCoinnich (chan i Fiona NicCoinnich à Griais bho na Peathraichean NicCoinnich!!) a' fuireach an Inbhirpheotharain agus is i Caidreach Òrain Màiri Mhòir airson Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd. Buinidh Fiona do shiorrachd Mhoireibh air Oirthir Ear na h-Alba, cheumnaich i aig Oilthigh Obar Dheathain agus dh' fhàs i air a cuartachadh le Cultar Dùthchail na h-Alba. Is ann nuair a ghluais i gu siorrachd Rois an 1989 a thainig a h-ùidh an Cultar na Gàidhlig am bàrr.
Thòisich i air seinn còmhla ri Còisir Ghàidhlig Inbhirpheotharain agus goirid an dèidh sin ghluais i gu seinn na h-aonar. Dh' aithnich i gu robh a faireachdainn airson na cànain na bu làidire na ùidh nach maireadh agus chaidh i air Dìan-chùrsa dà-bhliadhna Gàidhlig an Inbhir Nis. Tha i air dà CD a thoirt a-mach - "Astair", sgaoilte an 2001 agus "Seinn o ho ro Seinn", sgaoilte an 2003 - goireas teagaisg air a dhealbh airson a h-uile neach a chuideachadh ag ionnsachadh òran Ghàidhlig, le 40 òran Gàidhlig air a bheil meas air an seinn is air an aithris.
Tha Fiona an dòchas gun ionnsaich luchd-èisteachd a cuirmean air Radio Eadar-lìn Alba barrachd mu chultar na Gàidhlig a thuilleadh air cultaran Dùthchail eile agus tha fiughar aice ri cothrom Gàidhlig mar chànain a dhèanamh nas so-ruigsinn na bha i riamh roimhe.