Scottish Island by William Jackson
Buy this album now CD: £12.00 + p&p |
| William Jackson: profile & list of sheet music and recordings available from Creighton's Collection |
Ships'
bows ploughing noisily through foaming seas-sails pulling against
straining and creaking ropes-waves falling gently on silver
sands or ocean rollers crashing against rugged towering cliffs-the
cry of the guillemot-or the gannet-or the black-headed gull
as they swoop and soar. William Jackson's A Scottish Island
evokes all of these sounds and creates vivid mental pictures,
sometimes within the memory, sometimes within the imagination.
This is the real West Coast of Scotland, projected in musical
images through a delightful combination of traditional music
and the classical sounds of the Saltire String Quartet and
Kevin Winds, all blending together by Jackson who was one of
the first to remove the constraining barriers of compartmentalism
in developing a new style of Celtic music.
A Scottish Island
1. The Sea
2. The Rain
3. Island Dawn
4. The Wind on the Sails
5. Crossing the Sound
6. Welcome Refuge
7. Isle of the Heather
8. Machair
9. Flight of the Heron
10. Freedom of the Seas
11. The High Cross
12. The Sabbath Morning
13. Dance to the Wedding
14. The Call of the Silkie
15. Jewel in the Ocean
A Journey By Sea
16. Iona
17. Gigha
18. Islay
19. Jura
Sleeve Notes
A Scottish Island
Ships' bows ploughing noisily through foaming seas-sails pulling against
straining and creaking ropes-waves falling gently on silver sands or
ocean rollers crashing against rugged towering cliffs-the cry of the
guillemot-or the gannet-or the black-headed gull as they swoop and
soar. William Jackson's A Scottish Island evokes all of these sounds
and creates vivid mental pictures, sometimes within the memory, sometimes
within the imagination. This is the real West Coast of Scotland, projected
in musical images through a delightful combination of traditional music
and the classical sounds of the Saltire String Quartet and Kevin Winds,
all blending together by Jackson who was one of the first to remove
the constraining barriers of compartmentalism in developing a new style
of Celtic music.
A Scottish Island is William Jackson's largest scale work to date, and its polished balance demonstrates just how much his musical talents have developed since those early days with Ossian, through his significant and much-acclaimed Wellpark Suite to this new work featuring classical woodwind and strings playing alongside Highland bagpipes, fiddles, tin whistles and the clarsach.His comfortable affinity with his own Celtic roots-albeit from Donegal rather than Argyll-has created a fascinating musical picture of the inhabitants of these West Coast islands. No island is identified but all are there in some shape or form-either in Jackson's imagination or that of his listener familiar with the West Coast, perhaps as a resident or as a visitor. And if the listener hasn't yet been there, then Jackson's music will surely stir his or her desire to rectify that by encouraging a Hebridean visit at the earliest opportunity.
Eat your heart out Felix Mendlessohn-Fingal's
Cave will never sound the same again!
Bill Nolan -
May 1998
A Journey By Sea
A Journey by sea was composed in 1998 and reflects my experiences on
these Islands over the year. From the moving spirituality of Iona to
the beautiful island of Gigha where many a late night was spent at
ceilidhs. The gentle rowing measure of Islay contrasts with the majestic
splendour of the Paps of Jura and a last minute dash at dawn, for the
ferry, on a single track road.
William Jackson
William Jackson, has been at the forefront of Scottish music for over 20 years. In 1976, he was a founding member of the top Scottish band Ossian, described by The Boston Globe as "a gem in the same league as Ireland's Chieftans".
William's main instrument is the Scottish harp. or clarsach, which he also teaches. Additionally, he plays the wire strung harp, flute, whistle, uillean pipes and piano. William has a close involvement with major Scottish Orchestras in Scotland, and his music is featured on many BBC and other television productions.
Following his training as a music therapist at the London Guildhall School of Music, much of his time is spent working in this field, as well as composing and performing.Credits
The musicians on this album:
William Jackson gut-strung clarsach by Jack Yule, and a
wire strung harp by Triplett Harps, whistle, flute, uilean pipes
Mairi Mac Innes vocals
Mae McKenna vocals
John Martin fiddle
John McCusker fiddle, mandolin
Iain Maclnnes Highland pipes, Scottish smallpipes
Iain MacDonald flute
The Saltire String Quartet
Kelvin Winds (woodwind quartet)
The Gardyne Chamber Ensemble
James McIntoch percussion on Gigha and Jura
A Scottish Island was commissioned by Glasgow Folk & Traditional Arts Trust, and The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and premiered at Mayfest 1996 in Glasgow. The composer acknowledges the assistance of the Scottish Arts Council in the composition of both pieces of this recording.
All tracks composed by William Jackson except
track 7 'Isle of Heather', and track 18 'Islay', which are traditional-arranged
W. Jackson.
All tracks published by Mill Music Publishing.
Recorded at Castle Sound Studios, Pencaitland Feb 1998
Engineered and produced by Calum Malcolm
Portrait Photograph by Adolphus Glenn
Mill Records 1998
The Lodge
Gardyne
Forfar
Angus DD8 2SQ
Scotland
Tel +44(0)1241828956
email: send e-mail
| Instruments: | Celtic Harp + accompaniment / Orchestral / Ensemble |
| Genre: | Contemporary Scottish |
| Format: | CD |
| Our Ref: | A0261 |
| MCPS: | MRCD011 |
| Label: | Mill Records |
| Year: | 1998 |
| Origin: | Scotland |