Music to fill National Library’s reading rooms

Under the curation of renowned fiddler, Aidan O’Rourke, the National Library of Scotland’s reading rooms will be transformed into musical performance spaces.

O’Rourke, alongside musicians Allan MacDonald and Sarah-Jane Summers, and storyteller Eddie Linehan, are teaming up for two performances of Gaelic folklore – called Beacon – on the evening of Saturday 30 September.

Beacon is a response to ‘Sgeul | Story: Folktales from the Scottish Highlands’, an exhibition now on show at the National Library in Edinburgh. The exhibition tells the story of John Francis Campbell (or Iain Òg Ìle), a 19th-century figure who fell in love with Gaelic language and culture. Working alongside local storytellers and scribes, he collected and printed Gaelic folktales that were in danger of being lost as the oral tradition dwindled. His entire collection of archival material and library books is held in the National Library.

National Librarian Amina Shah said:

“Campbell’s archive – steeped in Gaelic culture and folklore – is a rich source of inspiration for artists and musicians. The exhibition space itself is evocative of 19th-century Scotland thanks to Campbell’s own artistic rendering of the landscapes and people he encountered on his travels.

“We are committed to experimenting with the collections and our spaces to inspire and entertain people in new ways. So we commissioned Aidan O’Rourke – one of Scotland’s most celebrated musicians – to respond to these stories and spaces. We are really looking forward to seeing Beacon in action – transforming our spaces at George IV Bridge into what will be a magical evening.”

Examining the collections, O’Rourke was struck by the words of George Webb Dasent, the first translator of the Icelandic sagas into English, here writing to John Francis Campbell about the stories Campbell had told him – specifically the “beautiful likening of light to sound and stories”. [At the time, Campbell was Secretary to the Lighthouse Commission, hence the reference to light.]

Said Webb Dasent:

“One [story] is like a flash of lightening, everywhere at once, all over, like one of your lights beaming from a certain distance round a particular spot. Some of those you remember are local traditions; as that connected to the bridge in Islay. The one you told me… is a pure tale. It belongs to no place and is true of all time and religions.”

O’Rourke was enthralled with the idea of Campbell sending out a beam of light that sweeps around, collecting tales, ballads and charms. He loved the idea of the ‘pure tale’ that doesn’t belong anywhere but is shared in all our collected consciousness, anywhere in the world.

“So I thought we could all take a walk together through the reading rooms of the National Library. I imagine one of these beams, illuminating glimpses of the various riches that stimulated Campbell.

“We’ll hear stories linked to Ossianic ballads from Eddie Linehan – one of the few remaining practising seanchaithe, or traditional Irish lore-keepers. We’ll hear Gaelic in story, song and music from one of Scotland’s great pipers and singers, Allan McDonald, a true tradition bearer. I’ll contribute Highland fiddle tunes and we welcome Sarah-Jane Summers to play Norwegian Hardanger fiddle as a note to Campbell’s fascination for Scandinavia.”

The event will take people through the National Library’s building on George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. It starts in the vaulted foyer and finishes in the Special Collections Reading Room with panoramic views of Arthur’s Seat in the distance.

There are two performances of Beacon on the evening of Saturday 30 September, at 6pm and 8.30pm. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance to give access to a paid bar selling alcohol, soft drinks and snacks, as well as a chance to see the exhibition.

Due to the unique nature of the event, tickets are limited to around 30 attendees per performance. Tickets cost £10/£8 (plus booking fee) and can be bought via Eventbrite.