Scotland's music: Joy Dunlop Reflections

Joy Dunlop is a storyteller, through, word, music, melody, and song choice. For her recording Faileasan (Reflections) she’s chosen to focus on songs from her native Argyll in the west of Scotland. There are songs of love -- its lighter sides, its tragedies, songs that look at love with wry humor and songs of romance. There are waulking songs, which are songs sung to the rhythm of work. There’s a lullabye, and there are songs which celebrate the land and landscapes of Argyll. Dunlop sings them all in Scottish Gaelic, but you need have no worries if this is not a language you understand well: she is a storyteller, after all, and the rhythm and heart of the songs come clear through her voice, and in the stories which live in the melodies as well. There are also, let it be said, English translations of the lyrics as well as Dunlop’s comments on the songs in the liner notes.

To further celebrate Argyll, Dunlop decided to source everything from backing musicians to production to photography from her native place. A number of those backing musicians are people you have met here along the music road before, among them Karen Matheson on voice, Donald Shaw on accordion, harmonium, and piano, Aidan O'Rourke on on fiddle, and Lorne MacDougall on pipes and whistles. It is Dunlop’s voice which centers the music, though, through songs including An Roghainn/The Choice, a set of puirt a beul/ mouth music from Argyll, a song in praise of the landscape of Taynuilt, and Carsaig’s Lullabye.
Dunlop is both an artist and a scholar of Gaelic music, talents she puts to good use here in sourcing and describing her material, and presenting it with clarity and love. She is also a vibrant performer, so if the chance comes your way to see her in concert, take it. In the meanwhile, join Joy Dunlop and her musical friends in sharing the songs and Faileasan (Reflections).
you may also wish to see
Capercaillie: Roses and Tears
Mary Ann Kennedy and Na Seoid
from Scotland: Joy Dunlop and Twelfth Day

-->If you'd like to support my creative work,
here is a way to do that, through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this.Thank you.

From Scotland: Joy Dunlop & Twelfth Day

Fiere is a word in Scots which means friend or companion.

Fiere is also the title of a recording Scottish Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop and the two women who comprise the duo Twelfth Day, Catriona Price on fiddle and voice and Esther Swift on harp and voice, have made together.

A song from the tradition that arose from and honors friendship sparked the idea of the album for the three women. Faca sibh Ragnaill no Ailein? / Have you seen Ronald or Allan? is a waulking song, a song women would sing together to keep the rhythm of the work (and the conversation) going as they worked cloth. There’s a call and response aspect to waulking songs, and with this one, the singer starts out asking about others before getting around to the subject of the one she loves. In this version, it’s easy to hear the sound of centuries of connections and conversations among friends in the words and in the melody.

It makes an engaging opening track for a collection in which Dunlop and Twelfth Day take the languages of Scotland -- Scottish Gaelic, Scots, English, Shetland -- in directions which both honor tradition and extend it. The lyrics for the rest of the ten tracks are words from a range of Scottish women poets, set to melodies which the musicians have composed. There are stories of love and loss, discovery and friendship, of the moments of life which reach across time.



listen to the music from Fiere


Differing though shared backgrounds in traditional music and a willingness for exploring where tradition can go brought Dunlop and Twelfth Day together. Take the journey through this music with them. You’ll be well rewarded. Standout tracks include The Last Licht, Fiere, Coimhead Iad, and The Light Gatherer.

you may also wish to see
Julie Fowlis: Live at Perthsire Amber
Music for St Andrew's Day: music of Scotland
Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seoid

-->Your support for Music Road is welcome and needed. If you are able to chip in, here is a way to do that, through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this. Thank you.