Category: Collaborations

With the pandemic being in full swing for over a year now, my Gaelic Choir hasn’t been meeting in person. But we’ve all been doing our best! We’ve been meeting via zoom to learn pieces, so that when we are able to meet in person again, we’ll have things to sing.

When lockdown first started here, I arranged a traditional Gàidhlig piece for 3 voices (SSA) that my dear friends and fellow choir mates, Naomi and Shay, were kind enough to lend me their voices to record!

We recorded our parts separately on audacity, but it seemed to work pretty well! I’ll let you read the translation while you listen if you like!

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They sent me to an island alone
An island of the sea, far from land

William likes our Anne
Ruairidh likes the cattle maid

They sent me to an island alone
An island of the sea, far from land

Allan likes the brown-haired woman
Ruairidh likes the cattle fold

They sent me to an island alone
An island of the sea, far from land

far, far, far from land

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This was a really fun arrangement to make, and it was fun to hear our voices together, even if we weren’t actually together. I’m hoping to write another arrangement soon, and maybe the three of us can even sing in person soon enough.

And don’t worry, more ducks are coming.

Thanks for listening!

The ever-brilliant writer Ellis Bray sent me this haunting poem and I couldn’t help but sing it. This was haphazardly recorded on Audacity and a webcam microphone late on a Monday night, so please forgive the quality.

Here are the words.

By Ellis Bray

A ghost has gripped you from within
He watches while you live
He tallies each and every sin
He marks how much you give.

He does not dare to damage you
He cannot create pain.
His callous curiosity
Resists where you restrain.

That haunting, hollow subsidence
You feel fill your core
Can powerf’ly protect you when
You’re fain to fight him more.

That harrowed heart that is your shame
–Arterial and vain –It reaches and retakes your name
To let you live again.

You’ve got a ghost inside your skin
But do not be afraid
He wants to see the world within,
The life that you’ve remade.

He wants to see if you survived,If vengeance was repaid.

If you like this poem, I recommend following Ellis Bray on twitter. He’s always working on a myriad of creative projects and I’m lucky to have him as a friend and frequent creative partner.

Thanks for visiting!