HebrideanUltraTerfHecate on Nostr: Maud Gonner 🇮🇪 ...
Maud Gonner 🇮🇪 (nprofile…80wy)
https://guthan.wordpress.com/2025/02/28/paul-mccallum-in-conversation/
................In Part 1C James notes how the advent of electricity marked a turning-point in Gaelic cèilidh culture, and Paul reflects that good singers would not necessarily be comfortable performing on a stage. Nevertheless he is encouraged by signs of natural musical ability in the local community. After MacBraynes he moved on to a Dominican centre helping people with drug or alcohol problems, where he mixed with people from all walks of life, and experienced a meaningful education. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12302)
In Part 1D Paul talks more about how his singing career took off, and how he received voice training in the classical tradition over a period of years. He points out that there are Gaelic songs that are classical, but notes also that the traditional worksongs of crofting communities provided natural voice training without the need for study, and that true vocal power is best demonstrated in soft singing. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12303)
In Part 1E Paul explores further the differences between classical and traditional singing, and the importance, in his view, of presenting Gaelic songs to islanders in a natural manner which chimes with their environment, albeit with the help of classical training. (He listened to classical singers as a boy and received help from classical teachers.) In Gaelic domestic culture he experienced an ingrained prayerful spirituality that combined naturally with music and the environment. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12304)
In Part 2A Paul and James share their experiences of being welcomed and absorbed into their respective communities in South and North Uist as young children. When James questions him about his later stage performances, Paul explains that that placed a distance between him and his audience, where he had the persona of “The Singer”, which was different from the Paul McCallum in his own home. Now retired from singing, he doesn’t miss the stage. He enjoys having his feet on the ground. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12305)................................................
https://guthan.wordpress.com/2025/02/28/paul-mccallum-in-conversation/
................In Part 1C James notes how the advent of electricity marked a turning-point in Gaelic cèilidh culture, and Paul reflects that good singers would not necessarily be comfortable performing on a stage. Nevertheless he is encouraged by signs of natural musical ability in the local community. After MacBraynes he moved on to a Dominican centre helping people with drug or alcohol problems, where he mixed with people from all walks of life, and experienced a meaningful education. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12302)
In Part 1D Paul talks more about how his singing career took off, and how he received voice training in the classical tradition over a period of years. He points out that there are Gaelic songs that are classical, but notes also that the traditional worksongs of crofting communities provided natural voice training without the need for study, and that true vocal power is best demonstrated in soft singing. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12303)
In Part 1E Paul explores further the differences between classical and traditional singing, and the importance, in his view, of presenting Gaelic songs to islanders in a natural manner which chimes with their environment, albeit with the help of classical training. (He listened to classical singers as a boy and received help from classical teachers.) In Gaelic domestic culture he experienced an ingrained prayerful spirituality that combined naturally with music and the environment. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12304)
In Part 2A Paul and James share their experiences of being welcomed and absorbed into their respective communities in South and North Uist as young children. When James questions him about his later stage performances, Paul explains that that placed a distance between him and his audience, where he had the persona of “The Singer”, which was different from the Paul McCallum in his own home. Now retired from singing, he doesn’t miss the stage. He enjoys having his feet on the ground. (Clilstore unit: https://multidict.net/cs/12305)................................................