James Ruff,
tenor and early Gaelic harp

The Oral Tradition, an important facet of Highland culture, encompasses a broad and impressive range of poetry and music, from the humblest country roots to the highest art crafted by great artists. Though officially excluded from the bardic orders, women increasingly became important bearers of tradition in Scotland as harpers and singers, but more so as poets and composers of song – often employing the intricate bardic poetic forms in their work. In later centuries, women became some of the first important collectors of traditional song. In this concert James explores the rich Highland repertoire from the 16th to 18th centuries - composed by women, collected by women, inspired by women. Come experience these songs, in both Gaelic and Scots, where wives and sisters lament their dead husbands, brothers and kinsmen; where they nobly celebrate their clan chiefs, and in one case beautifully bid farewell to the ‘Music of the Clarsach’ upon hearing of their family harper’s demise. Interspersed with haunting early harp repertoire preserved in Scottish lute manuscripts, this important and rarely heard repertoire is sure to transport you…