Ahead of his appearance at Under Canvas this time next month, South Uist singer-songwriter Gillebrìde MacMillan bilingually reflects on the role of Gaelic music in modern Scotland.

Tha iomadach òran brèagha againn ann an Gàidhlig a tha a’ moladh àiteachan is nàdar, a’ toirt iomradh air blàran eachdraidheil no a’ toirt cunntas air sluagh a bha gu tric fo chruaidh-chàs. Tha e cudromach gum bi na h-òrain sin air an ionnsachadh, air an seinn agus air an clàradh agus gun cùm sinn oirnn a’ togail bho thobar dualchas seinn na Gàidhlig.

There are many Gaelic songs praising place and nature, giving an account of heroic battles or an account of the lives of a people who were often downtrodden. It is important that those songs are learned, sung and recorded and that we continue to take from the rich well of Gaelic song traditions.

Ach, tha e cuideachd cudromach a bhith a’ lìonadh an tobair le bhith a’ dèanamh òrain a tha a’ buntainn ri ar beathannan anns an 21mh linn. Nam measg sin, tha òrain a bheir cunntas air iomadh cuspair leithid gaol, gràdh is cràdh, poileataigs agus sgeulachdan ar latha fhèin agus an t-saoghail mhòir. Tha mi fhìn a-nis air dà chlàr shlàn a dhèanamh de dh’òrain ùra agus tha e follaiseach dhomh gu bheil iarrtas aig daoine gus òrain ùra a chluinntinn ann an Gàidhlig. Agus nach math gu bheil nàdar de dh’ath-bheòthachadh air tighinn air dèanamh òrain ann an Gàidhlig le ceudan de dh’òrain ùra air an dèanamh anns na beagan bhliadhnaichean mu dheireadh – gu leòr dhiubh air an taisbeanadh anns an t-sreath Òran Annad air BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.

But it is also important to replenish the well by composing songs relevant to our lives in the 21st century. Among those are songs that deal with love and loss, politics and stories from across the world. I have released two self-penned albums of original songs and it is clear that there is an appetite for new Gaelic song compositions. It is wonderful to see that there has been a bit of a revival in Gaelic song composing in recent years - many of those showcased on the Gaelic radio show Òran Annad on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.

Agus nach eil e nàdarrach gu leòr gum biodh òrain Ghàidhlig ùra a’ bualadh air farsaingeachd chuspairean bho fhad is farsaing. Fad linntean, tha Gàidheil air a bhith a’ dol timcheall an t-saoghail agus iad a’ cur eòlas air poilitigs agus sgeulachdan anns na puirt, coimhearsnachdan agus bailtean don deach iad.

It is of course perfectly natural that Gaelic song should deal with a wide spectrum of subjects from near and far. For many generations, Gaels have travelled across the world, getting involved in social and political issues in the ports, communities, towns and cities where they settled.

Tha Gàidhlig a-nis na cànan eadar-nàiseanta ann an seagh eile cuideachd le daoine ga bruidhinn agus ga h-ionnsachadh air feadh an t-saoghail. Ach, saoilidh mi cuideachd gu bheil barrachd ùidh agus spèis dhan Ghàidhlig a’ tighinn am follais anns na coimhearsnachdan far an do chleachd Gàidhlig a bhith làidir agus gu bheil iarraidh aig ginealaichean ùra air òrain agus puirt ùra a bheir sealladh dhaibh air am beatha fhèin tron cànan fhèin.

Gaelic is also an international language in another sense too with learners and new-speaker communities active throughout the world. But it is also a time of renewed realisation in traditional Gaelic communities that the language and culture is special and worth preserving and revitalising. These communities are increasingly looking to hear new songs and tunes to complement the traditional repertoire.

Agus nach math gu bheil cothroman aig fèisean sònraichte leithid Under Canvas gus na h-òrain ùra sin a thaisbeanadh. Mar sin tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ cluich nan òran bhon chlàr as ùire agam Sèimh: The State of Calm ann an Inbhir Nis air 25mh Lùnastal. Chì mi ann sibh!

The role of music festivals like Under Canvas cannot be underestimated in the strengthening of Gaelic songwriting. I look forward to performing songs from my latest album of original songs, Sèimh: The State of Calm, next month!

This blog was written by Gillebrìde MacMillan.