Maggie Macdonald (née Michie; 17 November 1952 – 26 July 2016) was a Scottish Gaelic singer and primary school teacher. She was a Mòd gold medallist and sang with the Gaelic super-group, Cliar. She was part of The Campbells Of Greepe, along with other family members.
Maggie Macdonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 November 1952 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 26 July 2016 (aged 63) |
| Genres | Folk |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1993–2016 |
| Labels | Macmeanmna |
Early life
editShe was born on 17 November 1952 in Glasgow, Scotland. She was the daughter of Alasdair Michie, a senior police detective who had family on the Braes of Skye.[1]
Gaelic singing
editShe was part of the Inverness Gaelic Choir and in 1991 travelled with them to take part in a Gaelic festival in Vancouver, Canada where she won a solo singing competition.[2] She appeared in her second Mòd final in 1993 in Airdrie.[3] The following year, in Dunoon, she won gold medal in solo singing.[4] In 1998 she formed the band Cliar, along with cousin Mary Ann Kennedy, Arthur Cormack, Bruce MacGregor and others.[5] The band's eponymous first album Cliar was named Best Album in 2003 at the inaugural Scots Trad Music Awards.[1] The band were often described as a Gaelic supergroup.[6][7][8]
She was part of The Campbells of Greepe, family members from Skye with a long tradition of performing unaccompanied Gaelic song.[9] They were accomplished at puirt à beul, one of the most difficult genres of Gaelic song to perform.[10]
She also performed Gaelic Opera, Mac-Talla nan Eun, singing the last lament in a 2007 performance that was broadcast live.[11] The same year, she also appeared on Duan Nollaig, an album that was the first ever recorded collection of Christmas carols and songs in Gaelic.[12]
She was a member of the Inverness Gaelic choir.[13] She was on the board of directors of Fèis Rois, an organisation supporting Gaelic culture.[14]
She died on 26 July 2016.[1]
Discography
editCliar
editThe Campbells Of Greepe
edit- No 2 Greepe (Watercolour) 2014[17]
Collaborations and guest appearances
edit- Duan Nollaig 2007[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Obituary: Maggie Macdonald". The Scotsman. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ Adams, Rob (13 August 2016). "Obit - Maggie MacDonald, Gaelic singer". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Student follows in father's footsteps to make Mod history". The Herald. 22 October 1993. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Gold medal success for primary teacher". The Herald. 14 October 1994. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "It's not all in the name for this band". The Scotsman. 7 January 2003.
- ^ "Cliar". The Scotsman. 8 January 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Cliar show language of love is universal". The Scotsman. 9 January 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Live Folk review". The Scotsman. 7 October 2002.
- ^ MacKenzie, Keith (15 November 2013). "'Fonn': The life and times of the Campbells of Greepe". West Highland Free Press. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "The Campbells of Greepe to play Barn", STV News, 20 April 2012, retrieved 30 July 2016
- ^ "Final lament to vanished community, via webcam OPERA". The Scotsman. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Popped in again". The Scotsman. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ MacDonald, Isabel T (24 January 2012). "Review: An Aifreann Ghàidlig - St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow". The Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Fèis Rois. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Classical music. Mozart: Idomeneo Shostakovich: Symphony No 11. Jazz Jeff 'Tain' Watts: Bar Talk. Folk Cliar: Gun Tàmh". The Scotsman. 5 August 2002. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Album reviews". The Scotsman. 6 January 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ Adams, Rob (18 May 2014). "The Campbells Of Greepe No 2 Greepe (Watercolour)". The Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2016.