The beautiful psalms and hymns of the Gaelic-speaking Hebrides made a rare appearance at the British Academy in London.
Ethnomusicologist Dr Frances Wilkins, who is a senior lecturer at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, presented her research into the singing tradition.
She was joined by celebrated Gaelic singer Kristine Kennedy as part of the event titled ‘Memory Through Music: Celebrating Sung Histories’. The event was captured for audiences around the world and you can watch Dr Wilkins' contribution (from 43 minutes into the video).
Dr Wilkins 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.
“It was an honour to be able to explain the enduring impact of these traditions on our cultural heritage and understanding and to speak about this topic alongside Kristine Kennedy, one of Scotland’s finest Gaelic singers.”
Dr Wilkins has been researching the sacred song traditions of the West Highlands and Hebridean communities 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 North Dell, Ness, Lewis.
Further details on Dr Wilkins’ research can be found at www.franceswilkins.com