Music
Màiri’s album, ‘Gu Deas’, features songs mostly learned from recordings of South Uist tradition bearers, given contemporary arrangements.
The album was arranged and produced by the creative and talented Mhairi Hall. Including Mhairi (harmonium, piano, flute and whistle), it features wonderfully talented musicians, Megan Henderson (fiddle and voice), Ali Hutton (bodhrán, guitar, whistle and great highland bagpipes), and Rachel Newton (clàrsach, electric harp and voice).
Music Videos
Mairead nan Cuiread
Mairead nan Cuiread from Gu Deas. The video created by Domhnall Eoghainn MacKinnon, Macanta Media, tells the story of a disagreement between two women. The woman telling the story asks the other, why she is spreading rumours about her. She says this is something she wouldn’t do, as they have quite different outlooks on life.
Cailleach Mhor Stadhlaigh
An excerpt from Cailleach Mhòr Stadhlaigh (Big Hag of Stadhlaigh), one of the songs on Gu Deas. The song is a satire directed at those who believe in ghosts.
The song describes the encounter between a man and his horse with a big and frightening phantom old woman. Stadhlaigh is on the moorland North Uist.
Marloch 23 - Gu Fada Dhan Iar
Màiri released ‘Marloch 23’ in April 2023 featuring three songs commemorating the 100th year anniversary of the mass emigration of people from South Uist to Canada in 1923 on the SS Marloch and SS Metagama.
Mairi wrote lyrics and composed the melody for one of the songs ‘Gu Fada dhan Iar’. Ille Dhuinn on Dh’fhàg thu Mise was composed by Anna MacKay whose son left Uist for Canada on the SS Metagama.
Fàgail Bhornais was written by Donald MacDonald from Bornish for his neighbour who left Uist with his family on the SS Marloch.
The three songs recorded at the new studio in Cnoc Soilleir, South Uist, were arranged and produced by Allan Henderson. Featuring on the album alongside Màiri air Allan (Piano, Fiddle, Accordian) and Keith Morrison (Guitar). Recording and sound engineering was undertaken by Keith Morrison.
