‘Gràdh is Gonadh – Guth ag aithris’ (Love and Loss – A Lone Voice) is the powerful new album of pure and unaccompanied traditional Scottish Gaelic song by Christine Primrose, widely recognised and acknowledged as one of the great singers of her generation.

Christine Primrose - O A Leannain (Oh Sweetheart)

Over three decades on from her groundbreaking debut release, the cultural landscape and personal timing is right for this solo recording of clarity, poignancy and depth from a remarkable and mature voice. Laid bare and given space to breathe and speak, the emotion and feeling in this work make a connection that transcends language. These are songs of love and loss, presented in their most pure form; unaccompanied, vulnerable and beautiful.

‘…a masterpiece…every note and every syllable here is a note of grace’
Aonghas Padraig Caimbeul

'...a beautiful album...'
fROOTS

Raised on the Isle of Lewis as a native speaker immersed in the traditional Gaelic culture, Christine was a remarkable talent and prize-winning singer from a young age, going on to blaze a trail that many others have followed. At a time when traditional Gaelic singing was not widely known or appreciated, her seminal first album Àite mo Ghaoil (1982) was a catalyst for change. Breaking down barriers of all kinds, it introduced the living tradition of Gaelic song to a worldwide audience who could appreciate the beauty of the song, and the talent of this young singer, regardless of language.

Christine went on to travel the world, performing and teaching, releasing several more acclaimed albums, and has rightly become an extremely highly regarded and sought after artist and tutor. Now Head of Gaelic Song at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic College on the Isle of Skye, she has continued to contribute to, and consolidate, the developing understanding and appreciated for Gaelic song and culture, and was awarded Gaelic Singer of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2009.

This new release is an important milestone in the career of an increasingly important artist and singer, stripped back to basics and reflecting her earliest and deepest sense of what Gaelic song is and should be.

• Search for more work by Christine Primrose

Track Listing:
01. O A Leannain (Oh Sweetheart) 02. Am Fleasgach Dualach (The Curly-haired Young Man) 03. Gràdh Maireannach (Everlasting Love) 04. Thig an Smeòrach as t-Earrach (The Thrush Comes in Spring) 05. Suirghe na h-Oidhche (Night-time Courting) 06. An Gille Donn (The Brown-haired Lad) 07. Thug Mi Mo Làmh Don Eileanach (I Gave My Promise to the Islander) 08. Marbhrann do dh'Alasdair MacLeòid (Elegy for Alasdair MacLeod) 09. Chunnaic Mi Uam a' Bheinn (I saw the Ben from a distance) 10. Baile M’Àrach (The Village Where I Grew Up) 11. Eilean Leòdhais Gur Fada Thriall Mi (Island of Lewis, I Travelled Afar from You) 12. An Gille Dubh Cha Treig Mi (The Black-Haired Lad I'll Not Forsake) [Bonus Track] 13. Mo Cheist am Fear Bàn (My Love Is the Fair-haired One) [Bonus Track] 14. Gad Ionndrainn (Missing You) [Bonus Track]        

Artists on this release: 
Christine Primrose
The album also features spoken word contributions from Dolina Maclennan, Angus Peter Campbell & Dr John MacInnes.

Further Information:  
Produced by Robin Morton
Release Date: 23rd June 2017 (21st July 2017 in USA)
Label: Temple Records
Catalogue Number:
CD: COMD 2109
Download: DD 2109

Download Songwords & Translation for ‘Gràdh is Gonadh – Guth ag aithris’ (Love and Loss – A Lone Voice: