IT is a relatively rare event but it is hoped the production of an entire album of new Gaelic songs will help to show the language is not dead yet.
Written by singer Màiri MacMillan, the songs set out to prove not only that the language is still living but is also very much part of the history and culture of the central belt of Scotland – a fact that is sometimes disputed.
“I wanted to show that some of the myths around Gaelic are not true,” she told the Sunday National.
“Some people say Gaelic was never used in Central Scotland – that it is not or has not been a part of life in the central belt – well actually it has been and is. Gaelic has always been down here. You just have to look about you to see it has been spoken here.
“So many place names in Glasgow, for example, are derived from Gaelic and the history of the language in Glasgow goes back to the 11th century. You see that coming through in the place names such as Kittoch, Shettleston and Garscube. There are loads of them.”
Gaelic is not just part of the past of central Scotland. Glasgow alone has three Gaelic primary schools with a fourth opening this year as well as a secondary school, while the majority of local authority areas in Scotland now have either a Gaelic primary or offer Gaelic provision.
MacMillan herself works as a Gaelic teacher in a Gaelic primary school in East Kilbride having come to Glasgow from South Uist more than 30 years ago.
She has come to love the city and the new album, Glaschu – Songs To A City, is inspired by it and its green spaces.
The album is unusual in that it consists entirely of new Gaelic songs, whereas it is more common for albums in the language to consist of traditional songs, perhaps with one or two new ones in the mix.
These are important for the health of the language, MacMillan believes, as without the creation of new works, there is a risk of the Gaelic cultural landscape becoming increasingly homogenised, with a loss of its richness and breadth.
“It’s great if bands even sing or compose one song in Gaelic because it shows the language is relevant and has a place in Scotland and it will encourage other people to write songs,” she said.
“When writing these songs, I liked dispelling some of the myths and putting some of my own personal thoughts into them, especially now with my own connection with Glasgow.
“Why shoudn’t you have Gaelic songs written in Glasgow about Glasgow or your experience in Glasgow?”
MacMillan is worried about the critical state of the language, especially in the traditional heartlands, but takes comfort from the fact that there is widespread support for attempts to save it.
“Surveys show non-Gaelic speakers do see the language as an important part of Scotland and as Gaels we should maybe sing more of our own language and promote ourselves more,” she said.
However, government and local authority help is still needed to revive the language, especially in the islands suffering from the depopulation of native speakers.
“There is a huge difference in the number of children growing up in Uist compared to when I was growing up there and that is only 30 years ago,” she said.
“It is an issue and I would like to think that the Scottish Government and the councils are working to address that. We need people to be using and speaking Gaelic.
“There are people learning it – both adults and children and the number of young people learning it is increasing across Scotland but in the heartland areas it is critical.
“The Gaelic heartlands need to be viable for people to live in. Depopulation is a huge problem in these areas and that impacts on all aspects of community life.
“There are things happening and people are trying to encourage young people and communities to be involved but it is difficult if you are relying on the same people over and over again.”
The producer on the new album is Germa Adan from Haiti who MacMillan previously worked with on a project exploring mouth music.
“The album has quite a unique sound just because of what she has brought to the project. She has a different way of seeing things and I enjoy working with her,” MacMillan said.
Glaschu – Songs to a City will be released on May 2.
The single Glaschu has already been released and explores Glasgow’s reputation as a friendly and welcoming city – whether in the days of the Highland Clearances when Gaelic speakers descended upon it, or in more recent years where refugees have sought safety from across the world.
All proceeds from this single will be donated to Glasgow-based charity Refuweegee.
