George Campbell Hay Centenary Celebration Concert

Tarbert celebrates George Campbell Hay Centenary with new music and art

In December 2015 it will be a hundred years since the birth one of Scotland’s most prolific poets: George Campbell Hay (8 December 1915). This is to be celebrated in Tarbert (Loch Fyne), Argyll, with a series of music, art and language workshops throughout 2015, culminating in a concert of new music and an art/photography exhibition on 5 December 2015.

A significant proportion of Hay’s poetry focuses on Tarbert (Loch Fyne) and Kintyre. Hay describes beautifully the areas in and around Tarbert, Loch Fyne, the glens, hills and forests. And as poet of the sea and frequent guest on fishing boats to the fishing grounds of the Clyde, much of Hay’s poetry depicts sea journeys, the lives of fishermen, treacherous seas, and frequent references to the gannet or solan.

The George Campbell Hay Centenary Celebration aims to celebrate, appreciate and share the brilliance of George Campbell Hays’ poetry, by creating new music, new art and photography to depict Hay’s work, and by rediscovering some of the languages in which Hay wrote.

With workshops covering themes including Gaelic, Scots, Music, Vocal, Choral, Art and Photography, participants will be able to perform or create new works and new depictions of Hay’s poetry; all with the aim of getting more people interested in and appreciating Hay’s works. Walks focusing on scenes depicted in Hay’s poetry will also be organised. Signboards using artwork/photography produced during the year will be erected at various points in Tarbert and QR codes at these signboards will enable smartphone users to find links to Hay’s poems, new music, artwork and photography relevant to that part of the walk.

A final part of the centenary celebration will be a book and accompanying CD, ‘In the footsteps of George Campbell Hay’. This will include some of Hay’s poetry, new music, and new art and photography that depict his poetry visually.