Congratulations to Feis Rois and John Somerville who’s album The Voyage of The Hector has been nominated in Album of the Year (sponsored by Birnam CD) in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2015. Vote now!
We asked Feis Rois and John Somerville about their album The Voyage of The Hector.
In 2014, Feis Rois commissioned accordionist and Treacherous Orchestra front man, John Somerville to write a new suite of music inspired by the voyage of The Hector. The story of The Hector is one of human endeavour and hardship. In early July 1773, 207 passengers, mainly from Lochbroom in Wester Ross, boarded the ship in the small Scottish village of Ullapool. The ship, in the end carrying only 189 passengers, finally came to port in the town of Pictou, Nova Scotia in mid-September. The landing was several weeks later than planned. The journey between the two ports was one of great drama, hardship and suffering, but the passengers had remarkable strength of spirit and optimism for their future. John has composed 40-minutes of music which tells the story of this remarkable voyage in 8 movements.
The album has been created entirely by musicians and creative people who have come through Feis Rois. John himself is a former participant who now regularly teaches for the organisation. The album features 15 musicians, including Lauren MacColl, Ronan Martin, Mischa MacPherson and Rachel Newton. Somhairle MacDonald, also a former Feis Rois participant, designed the art work for the album and Barry Reid recorded, mixed and mastered the CD.
The Voyage of The Hector was recorded at Tulloch Castle in Dingwall in February 2015. The music has been performed around the world, including on the harbour in Ullapool and in the Decoste Centre in Pictou, Nova Scotia. This commission has been hugely well received with further performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Blas Festival, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton and the National Celtic Festival in Victoria, Australia.
About Feis Rois and John Somerville
Based in Ross-Shire, but increasingly working nationally and internationally, Feis Rois provides opportunities for people of all ages to participate in and enjoy traditional Scottish music. The organisation celebrates its 30th birthday in 2016 and has seen thousands of young people attend its renowned residential traditional music courses over the years. Read more about Feis Rois at www.feisrois.org.
John Somerville hails from Abriachan on the north shore of Loch Ness. He started learning the accordion at the age of ten and attended the first of many Fèis Rois courses in Ullapool when he was eleven years old. Having come up through Fèis Rois as a learner, supervisor and tutor, John has gone on to become one of the top accordion players in Scotland. He is known for his versatile and innovative style whilst staying true to his Highland roots. As a composer, he has written for the many bands, groups and acts he has worked with, including Treacherous Orchestra, Halcyon, Croft Number Five, Rule of Three, Box Club and The Arches Theatre Company
Feis Rois and John Somerville website: http://www.feisrois.org
You can listen to The Voyage of The Hector here.
Buy a ticket for the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 5th December in Dundee Caird Hall, start time 7pm. You’ll have a great time!
