This soundwalk explores the traditions and ecology of machair in the Western Isles of Scotland through spoken word, Gaelic song, music, and soundscape composition. A Gaelic word meaning fertile, low-lying grassy plain, machair is one of Europe’s rarest yet most species-rich habitats, only occurring on the exposed west-facing shores of Scotland and Ireland. Generations of low-intensity farming have shaped this unique living landscape and encouraged wildlife over millennia. An agricultural tradition carried through oral transmission from generation to generation, reflecting the power of communities to preserve intangible cultural heritage from generation to generation without recourse to written code.
About the work
Originally mapped to an established walking trail on the machair at Lionacleit (Isle of Benbecula), the soundwalk responds directly to the landscape and traditions of the machair. Developed in partnership with local communities on Uist, this work combines contemporary recordings with archival sound recordings from Edinburgh University’s School of Scottish Studies that chart over 70 years of oral tradition. Comprised of five sections, the work charts the growing season from cultivating the soil in early spring to the harvest in autumn.
Contemporary voices include crofters Alasdair MacEachen and Anne MacLennan, whose crofts have been in their families for generations. With a lifetime of crofting experience, both provide first-hand perspectives on working the machair, reflecting on how crofting practices have changed over their lifetime. Environmental scientist Matt Topsfield provides insights into the machair’s formation, history, and ecology. Originally from Essex, Matt settled on Uist in 2010 as a project advisory officer for the EU-funded research project Machair Life. Towards the end of the walk, we hear from the next generation of crofters, namely brothers Freddie (aged 7) and Seoras (aged 4) MacDonald, who provide an excellent commentary on harvesting crops on the machair.
From the archive, we hear excerpts of Dr Emily Lyle’s 1977 interview with islanders Roderick MacKillop, John MacIver, Angus MacKenzie, and John Morrison. Through their conversation, insights are given into pre-war crofting practices, collecting seaweed and planting crops, where the absence of machinery required considerable manual labour. Despite the hard work, we learn that these practices were an important social event that brought communities together – as MacKillop exclaims, “it was a special day!”.
As a cultural landscape, the machair and crofting practices are a source of inspiration and are often cited in Gàidhlig music and song. As such, songs from the Western Isles feature throughout and help frame the structure of the walk, echoing the themes featured in spoken narratives. These include songs about homeland and crofting practices, such as Angus MacDonald’s rendition of ‘Eilean Uibhist Mo Rùin’ (My beloved island of Uist) recorded in 1986, and Nan MacKinnon singing the children’s song ‘Orra Bhonnagan a Ghaoil’ (Dear Orra Bonnagan) about lifting potatoes recorded in 1958. As we learn about seaweed, a 1977 recording of the waulking song ‘Mhòrag ‘s na Hòro-gheallaidh’ (Morag and the Promised) is heard that recounts a love story about a girl collecting seaweed. Light-hearted songs include a celebration of the humble potato, in the 1950 recording of Angus Fletcher singing ‘Am Buntàta ‘s an Sgadan’ (The Potato and Herring), and a selection of puirt à beul (mouth-music) dance tunes sung by Kenneth MacIver in 1959.
Original compositions feature throughout. These include soundscape compositions comprising environmental field recordings and birdsong captured on the machair, and several compositions for synthesiser that respond to the ecology of the machair through the use of bio-sonification of machair wildflowers.
Experience the soundwalk
The soundwalk is freely accessible via the geolocative sound walk smartphone apps Echoes and Sonic Maps, or online via SoundCloud
Reception
Since its launch in September 2022, the work has been adapted for presentation in concert, premiering at GLEAM Festival Glasgow (May 2023), and broadcast on radio Radiophrenia and Resonance FM (August 2023). An extended version will debut at Nordic Music Days in Glasgow (October 2024). Commissioned by Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, the work has garnered significant recognition, being nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for Best Sound Art in 2023 and winning first prize in the international AudioWalk Award in 2024.
Credits
This work was commissioned by Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, with funds from Event Scotland.
Contributers: Freddie MacDonald, Seoras MacDonald, Alisdair MacEachen, Anne MacLellan, and Matthew Topsfield
Production team: Duncan MacLeod (composer), Kirsty MacDonald & Mairi McFadyen (creative ethnologists), and Sorcha Monk (creative producer).
• Common land on Uist – John MacDonald interviewed by Eric Cregeen (1973)
• An Cuan Siar – composition by Duncan MacLeod (2022)
• Uist Machair – Matthew Topsfield (2022)
• Eilean Uibhist Mo Rùin – Angus MacDonald recorded Donald MacDonald (1982)
• Nam Bithinn na mo Mhaighdeann – Kenneth MacIver recorded by fieldworker James Ross (1959).
• Gathering Seaweed on Uist – Roderick MacKillop, John MacIver, Angus MacKenzie, and John Morrison interviewed by Dr E Lyle (1977).
• Using seaweed to grow potatoes and crops – Alasdair MacEachen interviewed by Mairi McFadyen (2022).
• Mhòrag ‘s na Hòro-gheallaidh – Christine Shaw recorded by Morag MacLeod (1973).
• Uist seaweed – Matthew Topsfield (2022).
• Seaweeding the ground – Alasdair MacEachen interviewed by Mairi McFadyen (2022).
• The little yellow of the summer – composition by Duncan MacLeod (2022)
• Planting potatoes with seaweed – MacKillop, MacIver, MacKenzie, and Morrison interviewed Dr E Lyle (1977).
• Sgadan Saillt’ ‘s Buntàt’ – Peggy MacIve recorded by James Ross (1069).
• Orra Bhonnagan a Ghaoil – Nan McKinnon recorded by James Ross (1958).
• Lifting potatoes – Alasdair MacEachen interviewed by Mairi McFayden (2022).
• Machair cropping – Matthew Topsfield interviewed by Mairi McFayden (2022).
• Cropping on the machair – Alasdair MacEachen interviewed by Mairi McFayden (2022).
• Cropping traditions on the machair – Matthew Topsfield interviewed by Mairi McFayden (2022).
• Nam Bithinn na mo Mhaighdeann, Tha Fionnlagh ag Inneireadh, Mac a’ Phì – Kenneth MacIver recorded by James Ross (1959).
• Bailing on the machair – Freddie and Seoras MacDonald interviewed by fieldworker Mairi McFayden (2022).
• Am Buntàta ‘s an Sgadan – Angus Fletcher recorded by John Lorne Campbell (1950).
• Environmental field recordings & soundscape composition – Duncan MacLeod (2022)