Stories are
the oral traditions we tell each other and pass on. The songs and poems we
sing. The crafts and the images we create and paint. Our memories and past
inform who we are and where we see our future.
Like the monuments raised, our names, the names of places.
**Each
January in Glasgow Celtic Connections
celebrates musical connections and traditions between Scotland, Ireland,
England, America, Canada and Brittany traditions. These are the traditions that
have been passed down and also travelled continents. I am not sure how anyone
can dispute these connections exist. There are many similarities between the country
music of the Smokies and Irish and Scottish reels. This was never meant to be
about one race of people, but rather about the grassroots traditions and
stories, collaborations and beautifully hand made instruments.
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| Capercaillie |
Written
history however can confuse us - it depends on who won and who then wrote the
story. Renowned historian Stuart McHardy writes that is why the oral
tradition and stories expressed in our arts and culture matter a great deal.
They often tell us more than the printed historical texts.
Scottish folklorists
such as Hamish Henderson, Margaret Bennett and Dick Gaughan and also our
national poet Robert Burns two centuries
ago, travelled and collected the old songs and poems, many that had never
been written down before - songs such a Auld Lang Syne. Burns was a great
reader of many diverse voices and languages - he knew Scots, English, French
and Latin - even though he never attended university. He was taught by a young
Mr Murdoch, his father and was also self taught. He was also a great listener
and reader and he learnt of the rights of everyman and the impact of rhythm and song. He went on to write some of our best loved
songs and poems.
In 2015 a new exhibition at the
British museum - "Celts; Arts and Identity" surprisingly claims the Celts have never existed. Well they exist in people's
art, song and imagination. The exhibit claims the Celts were not a pure race
and rather an 'idea'. Perhaps all those
outside the 'empire' and outside big Business?
Writing in
the Sunday Times magazine, arts critic Waldemar Januszczak, claims that only in
the mind do the Celts exist. What on earth can he mean by this? Does he mean
that those in the Hebrides and in Ireland don’t have a separate and unique
identity? It is all propaganda.
The Romans
only mention those 'people' outside their walls as Gauls - of course Roman
history is written from a Roman perspective.
What does this all mean? Were the
Romans or Vikings pure races? Centuries ago these races travelled and mixed
with other races.
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| Loch Ardinning |
Britain’s stories of empire building are of the past. Some UK writers today over use the term ‘British’ – Britain only came into existence after the Union of the Parliament in 1707. Do these people when aboard call themselves ‘British? Really” Do they not tell foreigners that they are English. I always call myself Scottish. I have little, If any idea of the stories, art or music that Britain stands for. There is a union flag and the songs of Empire building like Rule Britannia. I believe Empire building like the Romans, have had their day and are of the past – or I hope so. Empire building means someone has to pay a price.
I believe in
a progressive, healthier future and one of the grassroots. The voices of
respect for all and valuing our local stories and traditions. We are shaped by our landscapes and I believe
Scotland has a special and unique story to tell with it’s rough often wild
landscapes and ever changing seasons.
Scotland was
never ruled by Rome or the Normans and kept her clans and she has a very
different story to tell than Ireland or England. Scotland has never been a part
of England and never will be a region. no matter how much some Lords might wish
it.
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| Kilmartin Glen |
Scotland has
always been outward looking and had it's bridge of boats. We travelled by sea
and most of our towns lie on the coast. ( just as also the Viking and Romans
looked outward)
Scotland has for centuries had unique
stories - the kilt, bagpipes, golf,
whisky, Clans, Burns song, mountain and heathers, wild weather…..Of course
there are pipes worldwide – that doesn’t mean that the Scottish pipes don’t
have a totally distinctive and unique sound to them.
