Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of the Highlands and Islands
Research to highlight traditional forms of Gaelic singing has now been turned into an exhibition which will tour Hebridean communities in 2024 and 2025. Dr Frances Wilkins, a Senior Lecturer in Ethnomusicology at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, has spent the last six years undertaking fieldwork in the West Highlands and Western Isles and exploring sacred and spiritual singing from the region. She has been compiling and recording Gaelic song traditions, including hymnody, Gaelic psalmody and spiritual bàrdachd which are diminishing in Hebridean communities.
Her research will form the basis of the new interactive exhibition, Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of the Highlands and Islands which she has co-curated with designer Ronan Martin. The exhibition is at the Skye & Lochalsh Archive Centre in Portree (Skye) from 22 June – 8 November 2024. The exhibition explores the incredible wealth of sights, sounds and memories of spiritual singing and song writing in everyday life in Highland and Island communities, something which has been part of Highland culture for millenia. Visitors can learn more about sacred song traditions of the region and explore sound recordings, film, objects, and a digital archive, soundmap and interactive virtual tour.
Many of the sound recordings, photographs and videos made during the project form the basis of a website and online digital archive (at www.seinn.org). A CD and book publication showcasing some of the sound recordings is due to be released later in 2024 and sold within the exhibition.
The exhibition opening event will take place on Friday 21 June from 5:00-7:00pm at Skye & Lochalsh Archive Centre, Elgin Hostel, Dunvegan Rd, Portree. Entry is free with refreshments provided.
