Mac-Talla (band)

Last updated

Mac-Talla
Origin Scotland
Genres Gaelic music
Years active1992 (1992)-?
Past members

Mac-Talla (Scottish Gaelic for "echo") was a Scottish Gaelic "supergroup" formed in 1992 at the suggestion of record label owner Robin Morton. [1] Morton credited the individual band members as some of those responsible for bringing Gaelic music to wider public attention. [1]

The group comprised three singers: Eilidh Mackenzie, a recipient of the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal, [2] Christine Primrose, [3] and Arthur Cormack; plus harpist and cellist Alison Kinnaird (also Morton's spouse [1] ), described by the Saltire Society in 2015 as one of Scotland's "most influential musicians" [4] and keyboardist Blair Douglas, [5] formerly of Runrig.

The band was described by the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and by The Rough Guide to World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, as a "Gaelic supergroup". [6] [7] Q Magazine also called them a "supergroup". [3]

Their only album, Mairidh Gaol is Ceòl (there is a Gaelic proverb, Thig crìoch air an t-saoghal / Ach mairidh gaol is ceòl, "The world will come to an end / But love and music will endure"), [8] was released in 1994 by Morton's Temple Records. [3] [7] In reviewing the album, Scotland on Sunday said "This has to be THE Gaelic showcase outfit for the 1990s". [3] Rough Guide: Scottish Highlands and Islands described the album as featuring "glorious harmony and solo singing, accordion and harp". [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Adams, Rob (28 January 1993). "Cream of the Gaels". Herald Scotland . Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  2. "Scotland Sings Song Leader: Eilidh Mackenzie". Hands Up For Trad. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Mac-Talla -- Mairidh Gaol is Ceòl". Temple Records . Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  4. "Alison Kinnaird". www.saltiresociety.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  5. "Alison Kinnaird MBE". Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  6. "Christine Primrose". Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  7. 1 2 Dorian, Frederick; Duane, Orla; McConnachie, James (1999). World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Rough Guides. pp.  269-270. ISBN   978-1858286358.
  8. McIntosh, Alastair (2018). Poacher's Pilgrimage: An Island Journey. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 40. ISBN   978-1-5326-3445-1.
  9. Humphreys, Rob; Reid, Donald; Guides (Firm), Rough (2002). Scottish Highlands & Islands. Rough Guides. ISBN   978-1-85828-880-2.