From: Macmeanmna News [naidheachdan_at_gaelicmusic_dot_com]
Sent: 18 October 2009 16:23
Subject: New Eilidh Mackenzie album and Highland Homecoming events

Macmeanmnaidheachdan
http://www.gaelicmusic.com

Fàilt' oirbh gu iris eile de Macmeanmnaidheachdan.  Tha greis on a chuir sinn iris a-mach mu dheireadh agus tha tòrr air a bhith a’ tachairt.  Mar is àbhaist tha beagan fiosrachaidh ann air rud neo dhà a tha a' tachairt thall 'sa bhos leis na daoine a tha air clàradh còmhla ri Macmeanmna, agus naidheachd mu dheidhinn clàran agus làrach-lìn gu tur ùr.

Welcome to another Macmeanmna newsletter.  It’s been a while since we’ve been in touch but there’s been plenty happening.  As usual there is some information about about one or two other things happening with the folk who have recorded with Macmeanmna, news of new releases and a brand new website.

MACMEANMNA CDs ARE AVAILABLE IN THE UK FROM THE FOLLOWING WHOLESALERS:
Macmeanmna | sales_at_gaelicmusic_dot_com | Phone 01478 612990 | Fax 01478 612990 (No requirement to open an account)
Gordon Duncan Distribution | gordon-duncan_at_sol_dot_co_dot_uk | Phone 01236 827550 | Fax 01236 827560
Highlander Music | info_at_highlandermusic_dot_com | Phone 01463 871422 | Fax 01463 871422

In this issue:
New website offering all Macmeanmna releases as downloads
http://www.gaelicmusic.com/
New album by Eilidh Mackenzie – Bel Canto
http://www.gaelicmusic.com/album.php?SKU=SKYECD52
An Aifreann Ghàidhlig – The Gaelic Mass – by Blair Douglas – Oban 30 October
http://www.highlandeventsandfestivals.com/highlandhomecoming/event/the_gaelic_mass_by_blair_douglas_an_t-aifreann_gaidhlig/
Nature’s Homecoming – Inverness 21 October
http://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/nature-s-homecoming
Sruth ri Steall – various October dates
http://www.highlandeventsandfestivals.com/highlandhomecoming/event/watercolour_music_presents_sruth_ri_steall/
The best music available and upcoming new releases
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NEW WEBSITE
We have invested heavily in re-designing our website - www.gaelicmusic.com - to enable us to sell our own albums more efficiently and cost-effectively and to allow us, for the first time, to make our music available via downloads.  

Our download price is 79p per track, and our album price just £9.99.  There is even an option to buy the download, allowing you to enjoy the music immediately, and also have a physical CD sent for just £11.99 to anywhere in the world, with no additional shipping charges!  We’ve knocked £2 off our prices making our music even better value in these tough economic times.

We look forward to your continued support and will, through time, be populating our website with as much of the Gaelic music that is currently available on the market, making it a one-stop shop for all Gaelic music.  More to come on that.
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EILIDH MACKENZIE
Bel Canto
Available from 1 November as a physical CD but available NOW to download track-by-track, or as a whole album, at www.gaelicmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/eilidhmackenzie



We have pleasure in announcing the release of an album of new Gaelic Song
Catalogue number SKYECD52   Bar Code number 5032475005230

Bel canto
, beautiful singing, is a term used to describe, in particular, the preferred light, bright quality of Italian opera singers, learned through the mysterious teaching practices of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.   Ann Patchett, award-winning American author, used the term for her novel “Bel Canto”, published in 2001.  Eilidh has taken Patchett’s story, transferred it to Gaelic Scotland and composed 14 original tracks around the narrative themes of love, music, identity, language and communication.  
 
The song cycle follows the tale of an opera diva and her audience members being taken hostage by a group of native terrorists. As the songs and story progress, boundaries become blurred.
 
The album, recorded by Mark Freegard at 3kyoti studio in Glasgow, boasts a stellar musician line up with Brian McAlpine as pianist, the lynch-pin for the song cycle.  Ged Grimes, ex Danny Wilson and now Deacon Blue, provides bass while the string section of Gordon Gunn on fiddle and Christine Hanson on cello complete the core band line up.
 
Instrumental colour is added by Allan Macdonald on moothie and Terry Small on guitar.
 
In addition to Eilidh on vocals, guest singers allude to the characters who mingle in the story and include Michael Marra, Elizabeth MacCormick, James Graham, Anna Meldrum, Eilidh’s sisters Gillian and Fiona ‘Gress’ Mackenzie and Eddi Reader.
 
The album will be officially launched at a special performance of the music at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness on Wednesday 25 November _at_ 7.30pm
http://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/bel-canto-eilidh-mackenzie
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AN AIFREANN GHÀIDHLIG | THE GAELIC MASS
Blair Douglas
St Columba’s Cathedral, Oban
Friday 30 October 2009 _at_ 7.30pm – Tickets are FREE and can be reserved by phoning 01478 613355.  Donations welcome and tickets will be available at the door on the night.
http://www.highlandeventsandfestivals.com/highlandhomecoming/event/the_gaelic_mass_by_blair_douglas_an_t-aifreann_gaidhlig/

An Aifreann Ghàidhlig - The Gaelic Mass - is a project which has interested and fascinated Blair Douglas for some years but one which he has only recently felt equipped, musically and spiritually, to undertake.  His Mass is rooted in the Celtic tradition but seeks to explore and develop differing musical themes.  It features a blend of traditional instruments - clàrsach, fiddle, flute, and pipes along with string accompaniment, organ, and keyboards.  Combining both musical styles, a unique and original work has been created featuring Gaelic singers Paul MacCallum and Maggie Macdonald with Inverness Gaelic Choir.

An Aifreann Ghàidhlig premiered at Blas 2009 to rave reviews and standing ovations, and this is an opportunity to hear the piece outside the Highland Council area for the first time.
http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/Default.aspx.LocID-hianewppz.RefLocID-hiacg5005.Lang-EN.htm
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OTHER HIGHLAND HOMECOMING EVENTS FEATURING MACMEANMNA ARTISTS
http://www.highlandeventsandfestivals.com/highlandhomecoming/

Nature's Homecoming
Wednesday 21 October 2009 _at_ 7.30pm
http://www.eden-court.co.uk/whats-on/shows/nature-s-homecoming

Scottish Natural Heritage and The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are joining together for a positive celebration of species re-introduction.

This special evening, hosted by Scottish broadcaster and journalist, Lesley Riddoch, will use video, still images, music and discussion to examine the sometimes controversial Homecoming of some of Scotland’s best-known species including beavers, corncrakes and sea eagles.  The speakers will be John Lister-Kaye on beavers, John Love talking about sea eagles and Dr Paul Walton discussing corncrakes.

Alongside them will be Arthur Cormack and Ingrid Henderson of Cliar who will provide some Gaelic song accompaniment and Gaelic Poet, Angus Peter Campbell.

Sruth ri Steall
MARY ANN KENNEDY & NA SEÒID
FINDLAY NAPIER & THE BAR ROOM MOUNTAINEERS
THE JOHN GOLDIE BAND
THE SORREN MACLEAN BAND
http://www.highlandeventsandfestivals.com/highlandhomecoming/event/watercolour_music_presents_sruth_ri_steall/

AROUND THE HIGHLANDS
One of the Highlands’ best-loved recording studios, at which several Macmeanmna CDs have been recorded, is celebrating the move to its new purpose-built home with a very special series of events featuring some of the musicians who’ve passed through the studio doors over the years.  At the invitation of the Highland Homecoming, Watercolour have put together a trail of six gigs from Thurso to Ardgour with a grand finale at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on the 27th October, with all four bands taking to the stage.  

Thursday 22 October – The Cèilidh Place, Ullapool 8pm
Mary Ann Kennedy & Findlay Napier in concert.
Tickets available from The Cèilidh Place – 01854-612103.
 
Friday 23 October – The Royal Hotel, Thurso 8pm
Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seòid in concert. In association with Mòd Ghallaibh 2010.
Ticket information from info_at_watercolourmusic_dot_co_dot_uk.
 
Saturday 24 October – Village Hall, Lochcarron 8pm
Cèilidh Dance with Angus ‘Skipinnish’ MacPhail, Calum Ailig MacMillan, Tormod MacArtair & Friends. Ticket information from info_at_watercolourmusic_dot_co_dot_uk.
 
Saturday 24 October – The Lovat, Fort Augustus 8.30pm
Concert featuring solo sets from John Goldie and James Graham.
Tickets available from The Lovat – 0845-450-1100.
 
Sunday 25 October – Watercolour Music Studios, Ardgour 3pm
House Concert with Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers and The Sorren MacLean Band.
Advance reservation of limited places essential! Email: info_at_watercolourmusic_dot_co_dot_uk.

Tuesday 27 October – Eden Court Theatre, Inverness – 7.30pm
Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seòid, Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers with
The John Goldie Band, The Sorren MacLean Band
Tickets available from Eden Court Box Office – 01463-234234.

For more information, email info_at_watercolourmusic_dot_co_dot_uk or phone 01855-841320
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THE BEST GAELIC and HIGHLAND MUSIC CDs
You can buy albums by Bannal, Freeland Barbour, Donald Black & Malcolm Jones, Kenna Campbell, Mairi Sìne Campbell, Ceòlraidh Ghàidhlig Ghlachu, Cliar, Arthur Cormack, Jenna Cumming, Dòchas, Blair Douglas, Jennifer Forrest & Her Band, Alasdair Gillies, Allan Henderson, Mary Ann Kennedy, Stuart Liddell, Rona Lightfoot, Ishbel MacAskill, Alasdair MacCuish & The Black Rose Cèilidh Band, Bruce MacGregor, Iain MacKay, Mackenzie, Maeve MacKinnon, Donnie Murdo MacLeod, Gillebrìde Macmillan, Niall Matheson, Patrick Molard, Charlotte Petersen, Mary Smith, Chaz Stewart and Kenneth Thomson now, on-line, at http://www.gaelicmusic.com.  
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MORE ALBUMS TO COME ...
Arthur Cormack has still to complete his new solo CD, some day soon!  Dr Angus MacDonald has finished a new piping album for us, as has Iain MacInnes, and we will be releasing a brand new album by legendary Gaelic group Na h-Òganaich before Christmas.  Watch this space for more details.
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We hope you are happy to receive the occasional information contained in the newsletter.  Your name has been included either because you have bought from us before, you could buy from us in the future, or have a known interest in our kind of music.

We will send out regular mailings, giving information on new releases, how our website is developing and related news to do with the label, or our artists.  If you would rather not receive these, please simply return this mailing, or any future one at any time, with 'remove' in the subject line, and we will instantly remove your name from our list.

If you know of anyone who would like to receive this newsletter, please e-mail his/her address to us with 'add' in the subject line, and we'll add them too!

Thanks for your interest.

Arthur Cormack, Shona Cormack, Mary Ann Kennedy and Cailean Maclean


Macmeanmna
Burnbrae | Rathad an Taoibh Sear | Port-Rìgh | An t-Eilean Sgitheanach | IV51 9HP
Burnbrae | Staffin Road | Portree | Isle of Skye | IV51 9HP
Fòn & Facs/Telephone & Fax 01478 612990

BRAND NEW WEBSITE NOW OFFERING MACMEANMNA ALBUMS AS DOWNLOADS
An ceòl Gàidhealach as fhèarr air-loidhne aig http://www.gaelicmusic.com
The best Gaelic music is available online at http://www.gaelicmusic.com
Tha Macmeanmna Earranta clàraichte ann an Alba - àireamh-chlàraidh SC 264020
Macmeanmna Ltd is registered in Scotland - registration number SC 264020