Congratulations to Struileag: Children of the Smoke who have been nominated in Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2014. Vote now!
We asked Jim Sutherland of Struileag: Children of the Smoke the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Featuring the voices of; Allan MacDonald, Fiona MacKenzie, Kathleen MacInnes, Brian Ó hEadhra, Joy Dunlop, Calum Barker, Alasdair Whyte, Rachel Newton, David McCallum
Children of the Smoke, an internationally-streamed live Gaelic show, was performed to 5000 people during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. The live show was signature element of the Homecoming Scotland programme, while the live stream enjoyed nearly 2000 international viewers. Composer and Artistic Director Jim Sutherland worked with 25 commissioned Gaelic poets and 20 musicians and singers to create the score for the spectacular 60 minute show.
A team of critically-acclaimed Gaelic poets from across the diaspora were commissioned create the texts from which Composer Jim Sutherland would develop songs, raps and poetic performances underscored by music. Led by award-winning writer and poet Kevin MacNeil, this team of writers ranges from such luminaries as Aonghas Dubh MacNeacail and Anna Frater, to the exciting emerging talents of Babs NicGriogair and Mona NicLeòid, and also includes texts by traditional Gaelic singers such as Ailean Dòmhnallach and Griogair Labhruidh.
This is part of a much wider project. Struileag is an international Gaelic arts initiative that highlights the importance of indigenous languages to the concept of home and belonging www.struileag.com .
Struileag employed 125 people in its various aspects to deliver: a touring show that will tour during 2015/16, a TV arts programme, a book of poetry, a CD of music and an engaged, international, online community.
Margaret Mary Murray: Head of BBC Alba said “Struileag Children of the Smoke is a watershed moment in Gaelic music”
As a direct result of the project, which has captured the imagination of diaspora communities world-wide, Artistic Director Jim Sutherland was invited to speak in Washington, DC, at the Tartan Day Symposium. The talk explored how social media and digital technology can be used to connect people around the world in the creation of an arts project, with specific reference to the Scots Gaelic diaspora, and the development of Struileag. Meanwhile, an online transmedia project has connected diaspora communities across the world, helping to generate a high standard of entries for a Gaelic poetry competition, and a forthcoming book of poetry that places new Gaelic writers alongside established bards (due to launch December 2014) A television arts programme exploring the Gaelic diaspora through music and poetry will air on BBC Alba on Christmas eve.
Children of the Smoke
Artistic Director composer: Jim Sutherland
Director of show Dan Ailing
Director of poetry Kevin McNeil
Choreographer Thomas Small
La Banda is a Scottish Charity
Producer: Wezi Mhura
Struileag is a La Banda Initiative.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
Struileag is a LA Banda Initiative.
La Banda is a Scottish music charity that explores the Scottish cultural viewpoint in the context of the international world. The Company responds artistically to indigenous languages and cultures to create high impact, forward-looking contemporary artworks that speak across generations. The company creates and produces new work in order to build upon the cultural heritage rather than simply relying upon it.
The collaborative creative process of La Banda’s work benefits both participants and audiences, generating innovative performances, publications, and recordings. The company continues to place emerging young artists side by side with seasoned professionals and mentoring work with emerging and mid-career artists can contribute towards a vital legacy that will serve to inform and inspire future generations of artists and performers.
With music at its heart, La Banda unites artists and communities in Scotland and across the world in contemporary creative processes which respond to heritage and culture. La Banda embodies the discovery of common humanity through exploring and celebrating a rich diversity of cultures. As we advance towards global monoculture, the company seeks to explore ethnography and geography from a fresh new perspective. Asking the question, ‘How do I fit into this planet?’
Any particular career highlights?
Derry, UK Capital of Culture
La Banda is very proud of its work on creating a gift from the Scottish people to the people of Derry.
This gift, commissioned by the Scottish Government took the form of a piece of music ‘An Turas/The Voyage’ composed by La Banda’s artistic director, Jim Sutherland in collaboration with Alan MacDonald, The music, featuring 15th century Gaelic texts, incorporated a reconstruction of the Carnyx a 2000 year old bronze instrument discovered in ancient peat bog and featured the voices of the ‘red monks’.
La Banda commissioned ‘Highland printers’ in Inverness to create the accompanying artwork and presentation box.
The piece was presented by Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hislop to the Mayor of the City and the Taoiseach and the music underscored the ceremonial opening of Derry as UK capital of culture. This ceremony, written by Frank Cottrelll Boyce was attended by an audience of 30,000 people
La Banda Europa
This extraordinary orchestra is made up of 35 virtuoso musicians who play ethnic instruments indigenous to their own European country of origin. La Banda Europa is a potent symbol of how people from different backgrounds and cultures can come together in common purpose, united by music La Banda Europa comprises hurdy gurdies from France and Hungary, nyckelharpas from Sweden, Armenian duduks, Serbian brass instruments, Turkish drums, the bagpipes of six nations and much more.
This unique ensemble performs specially composed music that both celebrates the diversity of our heritage and serves as a fanfare for a dynamic, modern Europe. Highlights to date include collaboration with the world renowned The Vienna Boys’ Choir.
What are your plans for the future?
Children of the Smoke will tour internationally in 2015/16 dates in India and Russia are currently being discussed. The transmedia story telling project will continue to develop in partnership with Edinburgh University School of Scottish Studies, and the Scottish Society of Antiquaries.
Over the next five years La Banda will build on successful existing projects, including Struileag and La Banda Europa, to facilitate a cultural exchange which will inform and elevate the Scottish arts sector:
Read more about Struileag: Children of the Smoke
Buy a ticket for the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 13th December in Inverness Leisure, start time 7pm. You’ll have a great time!
