‘Argyll Gaelic Song’ with Joy Dunlop

www.joydunlop.com

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig are delighted to introduce this new course ‘Argyll Gaelic Song’ with Joy Dunlop to their 2019 Short Courses programme.

Raised in the small village of Connel on the west coast of Scotland, Joy was steeped in the musical traditions of Argyll since childhood. Her second solo album Faileasan was the mesmerising product of Joy’s personal quest to explore and showcase the unique beauty and intricate depths of the local Gaelic song tradition she inherited growing up in rural Argyll. 

This course is a continuation of that exploration, where Joy will introduce participants to some of the songs she discovered whilst researching Faileasan and will feature material from both mainland Argyll and its islands.  Types of songs covered will include:

• waulking songs,
• puirt à beul (mouth music),
• love songs,
• praise songs
• and humorous songs of satire.

By the end of the week, participants will have an array of songs and will showcase a selection as a group at the course cèilidh.

The course is suitable for both fluent speakers and those who have little or no Gaelic as the tuition will be in both English & Gaelic and no singing experience required.  Participants will receive paper copies of all material covered but may wish to take a small recording device/Dictaphone along to record some of the course content. There’s space for up to 18 people on the course.

Crowned Traditional Singer of the Year & Traditional Dance Champion at the 2015 Pan Celtic Festival, Joy Dunlop is a multi-prize winning Gaelic singer and Scottish step-dancer. Her singing career is the result of a life–long fascination with Scotland’s traditional music and has led her all over the world; from major Celtic festivals to touring the UK, Europe, Japan, Canada and New Zealand.

Nominated as Gaelic Singer of the Year 2016, 2011 & 2010, Joy has also won both the coveted Royal National Mòd Gold Medal and the Oban Times Gold Medal. Through her singing, she showcases Gaelic music and song in a contemporary way that always remains true to its roots.

Joy is excited to be teaching her first Gaelic Song week at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and looks forward to sharing Argyll’s rich Gaelic song heritage with those participating.