Margaret Bennett and Friends - The Experience of Emigration

Highland Emigrants’ Experience in Story and Song
At the Stables Wednesday October 21st at 8pm
a Highland Homecoming Event
Eminent folklorist and Gaelic singer, Margaret Bennett will narrate stories and sing songs linking all aspects of the show with special guest, David Alston. Singers include Ethel MacCallum and Dancer, James MacDonald Reid.  The chorus is provided by the Ochtertyre singers.
In the absence of written records, nineteenth century Gaelic-speaking emigrants often kept their history alive via fireside stories and songs. This presentation, illustrated by songs from fieldwork recordings, testifies to the strength of oral tradition in the New World and the influence it continues to have in the twenty-first century.
The show tells of their experiences leaving the Highlands and making a living in the New World. Beautifully illustrated with songs, music and stories.

BIOGRAPHY
MARGARET BENNETT was brought up in the Isles of Skye, Lewis and Shetland. She emigrated to Canada in 1967 as a post-graduate student in Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 1975 she was Folklorist with The Museum of Civilization’s Quebec-Hebridean Project, returning to Scotland in 1976. From 1984 she lectured at the University of Edinburgh, recording oral history and traditions of Scots at home and abroad. Now part-time at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, her books include Scottish Customs from the Cradle to the Grave (1992) and two prize-winning studies on emigrant traditions, The Last Stronghold: Scottish Gaelic Traditions in Newfoundland, (1989) and Oatmeal and the Catechism: Scottish Gaelic Settlers in Quebec (1999). She features on several CD recordings, has sung at international festivals has contributed to several theatre productions. In 1998 she received the Master Music Maker Award “in celebration of a lifetime of musicianship and teaching” and in 2003, the Celtic Women International award for ‘lifelong service to Scottish Culture’. For Homecoming Scotland 2009 she has published a book with double-CD of songs spanning three centuries, Dìleab Ailean—A Newfoundland Homecoming Cèilidh, (Grace Note Publications).

This is definitely a concert not to be missed! Tickets cost £10 and £8 and can be booked in advance at info@cromartyartstrust.org.uk or phone 01381 600354
 

Cromarty Arts Trust gratefully acknowledges assistance from the Highland Council

Highland Culture Programme (Ag Aithneachadh Prògram Cultar na Gàidhealtachd)