The beautiful psalms and hymns of the Gaelic-speaking Hebrides will make a rare appearance at the British Academy in London on Thursday 22 May 2025 - and will be live-streamed to audiences around the world.
Ethnomusicologist Dr Frances Wilkins, who is a senior lecturer at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, will be travelling to London with the celebrated Gaelic singer, Kristine Kennedy, from Lewis, to take part in a special event at the British Academy, titled ‘Memory Through Music: Celebrating Sung Histories’.
Dr Wilkins, who lives on Skye, said: “Musical storytelling has for centuries been used as a means of preserving cultural knowledge and experience across the globe, in a way that is often overlooked in written records.
“This event aims to bring these histories to life, through a combined exploration of Breton ballads, Gaelic spiritual singing, UK rap and grime, and Islamic singing from the Balkans. ‘Memory Through Music’ will bring academics and performers together to explore the enduring impact of these traditions on our cultural heritage and understanding.”
During the event, Dr Frances Wilkins, will provide an overview of the little-researched sacred song repertoires in Hebridean communities. This will include the iconic Gaelic psalm singing tradition and songs from the rich bardic tradition of the islands. Kristine Kennedy will be singing some of the most iconic songs from the tradition.
Dr Wilkins added: “It is a privilege to be taking part in this event, which celebrates the some of the most important aspects of Scotland’s cultural heritage.
“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to speak about this topic alongside Kristine Kennedy, one of Scotland’s finest Gaelic singers.”
Highlands-based Kristine Kennedy said: “It's been a real joy to collaborate with Frances who has really embraced our precious Gaelic spiritual songs which hold such a special place in my heart. I look forward to sharing them with a wider audience.”
Dr Wilkins has been researching the sacred song traditions of the West Highlands and Hebridean communites since 2018. She has conducted extensive research and produced an archive of over 300 song recordings (found at www.seinn.org), touring exhibition, and numerous publications. The exhibition, ‘Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of Highland and Island Communities’, has been touring Hebridean communities since January 2024. It is currently on display at Comunn Eachdraidh Nis in Ness (Island of Lewis) until November 2025.
The Memory Through Music: Celebrating Sung Histories’ event, which starts at 18:30, will be held at the British Academy in Carlton House Terrace, London.
It is free to attend but booking is required. It will be live-streamed to allow people to watch it from anywhere in the world.
For more details visit Memory through melody: celebrating sung histories | The British Academy.
Further details on Dr Wilkins’ research can be found at www.franceswilkins.com
ENDS
Note to editors
Event details:
Title
‘Memory Through Music: Celebrating Sung Histories’.
Time
Thursday 22 May 2025: 18:30-20:00
Venue
The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH & Online: Vimeo
Website
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/memory-through-melody/
Price
Free (in person/online)
Sailm is laoidhean Ghàidhlig ri thaisbeanadh aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, Lunnainn
Bidh sailm is laoidhean àlainn nan Eileanan Gàidhlig a’ nochdadh gu tearc aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn ann an Lunnainn air Diardaoin 22 Cèitean 2025 – agus thèid an craoladh beò gu luchd-èisteachd air feadh an t-saoghail.
Bidh an t-eòlaiche-ciùil eitneòlach, an Dr Frances Wilkins, a tha na h-òraidiche àrd-ìre aig an Ionaid Elphinstone, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain, a’ siubhal a Lunnainn leis an t-seinneadair Gàidhlig ainmeil, Cairistìona Cheanadach, à Leòdhas, gus pàirt a ghabhail ann an tachartas sònraichte aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, leis an tiotal ‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl: A’ comharrachadh Eachdraidh Seinnte’.
Thuirt an Dr Wilkins, a tha a’ fuireach san Eilean Sgitheanach: “Tha sgeulachdas ciùil air a bhith air a chleachdadh airson linntean mar dhòigh air eòlas agus eòlas cultarail a ghleidheadh air feadh an t-saoghail, ann an dòigh a thèid a dhìochuimhneachadh gu tric ann an clàran sgrìobhte.
“Tha an tachartas seo ag amas air na h-eachdraidh sin a thoirt beò, tro sgrùdadh còmhla air baileadan Breatannach, seinn spioradail Gàidhlig, rap is grime RA, agus seinn Ioslamach bho na Balkans. “Bidh ‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl’ a’ toirt luchd-acadaimigeach agus luchd-ciùil còmhla gus buaidh mhaireannach nan traidiseanan seo air ar dualchas agus ar tuigse chultarail a sgrùdadh.”
Rè na tachartais, bheir an Dr Frances Wilkins sealladh farsaing air na clàran-ciùil òran naomha nach eil air an rannsachadh gu mòr ann an coimhearsnachdan Innse Gall. Bidh seo a’ toirt a-steach traidisean suaicheanta seinn nan sailm Gàidhlig agus òrain bho dhualchas beairteach bàrdachd nan eilean. Bidh Cairistìona Cheanadach a’ seinn cuid de na h-òrain as suaicheanta bhon traidisean.
Thuirt an Dr Wilkins: “’S e urram a th’ ann a bhith a’ gabhail pàirt san tachartas seo, a tha a’ comharrachadh cuid de na taobhan as cudromaiche de dhualchas cultarail na h-Alba.
“Tha mi air leth toilichte gun d’ fhuair mi an cothrom bruidhinn mun chuspair seo còmhla ri Cairistìona Cheanadach , aon de na seinneadairean Gàidhlig as fheàrr ann an Alba.”
Thuirt Cairistìona Cheanadach, a tha stèidhichte air a’ Ghàidhealtachd: “Tha e air a bhith na fhìor thoileachas co-obrachadh le Frances a tha air gabhail ri ar n-òrain spioradail luachmhor Gàidhlig aig a bheil àite cho sònraichte nam chridhe. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith gan roinn le luchd-èisteachd nas fharsainge.”
Tha an Dr Wilkins air a bhith a’ dèanamh rannsachaidh air traidiseanan òrain naomha choimhearsnachdan na Gàidhealtachd an Iar agus Innse Gall bho 2018. Tha i air rannsachadh farsaing a dhèanamh agus tha i air tasglann de chòrr is 300 clàradh òrain a thoirt gu buil (ri lorg aig www.seinn.org), taisbeanadh siubhail, agus iomadh foillseachadh. Tha an taisbeanadh, ‘Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of Highland and Island Communities’, air a bhith a’ siubhal choimhearsnachdan Innse Gall bho Fhaoilleach 2024. Tha e an-dràsta ri fhaicinn aig Comunn Eachdraidh Nis ann an Nis (Eilean Leòdhais) gu Samhain 2025.
Thèid an tachartas ‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl: A’ Comharrachadh Eachdraidh nan Seinn’, a thòisicheas aig 18:30, a chumail aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn ann an Carlton House Terrace, Lunnainn.
Tha e an-asgaidh a bhith an làthair ach feumar àite a ghlèidheadh. Thèid a chraoladh beò gus leigeil le daoine coimhead air bho àite sam bith san t-saoghal.
Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh tadhail air Cuimhne tro fhonn: a’ comharrachadh eachdraidh nan seinn | Acadamaidh Bhreatainn.
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu rannsachadh an Dr Wilkins aig www.franceswilkins.com
CRÌOCH
Nota do luchd-deasachaidh
Fiosrachadh mun tachartas:
Tiotal
‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl: A’ comharrachadh Eachdraidh nan Seinneadairean’.
Ùine
Diardaoin 22 Cèitean 2025: 18:30-20:00
Àite
Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, Lunnainn, SW1Y 5AH & Air-loidhne: Vimeo
Làrach-lìn
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/memory-through-melody/
Prìs
An-asgaidh (gu pearsanta/air-loidhne)