The music on this release definitely lives up to its title, having been performed on the Isles of Lewis and Harris in the Scottish Hebrides. These remain heavily Gaelic-speaking areas, and their churches are home to a unique variety of psalm singing that is little known outside the region. It is in the Scots Gaelic language, and in its pure form, it makes use of the device known as lining-out, familiar in other types of British Isles hymnody and in early America: a precentor or leader sings a line solo, and the congregation repeats it. Generally, psalms are sung a cappella, and the intention of the present performers, led by composer-producers Craig Armstrong and Calum Martin, was to create an orchestral setting of the music, featuring the small strings-and harp group the Scottish Ensemble. Their solution is quite effective. They add drone-like music for the strings, with cello solos, and insert all-instrumental movements, creating two large pieces, titled Ballantyne and Martyrdom. Most interestingly, they evoke the lining-out process without really retaining it, adding vocal solos that have quite a haunting effect. The recording location is not specified with absolute clarity but appears to be a studio in London, not one of the actual churches where this music is sung. For lovers of Celtic music or of Scotland, and really for anyone interested in novel uses of traditional folk material, this will be one of the can't miss holiday purchases of 2020 and beyond.
© TiVo