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According to Fèisean nan Gàidheal, "A Fèis is an opportunity for individuals to come together to develop skills in the Gaelic arts – song, dance, drama, and traditional music on a wide range of instruments. Tuition is accessible and fun, but professional and effective." The Fèis movement began in 1981 in response to a concern that local traditions were dying out, especially since children were not being taught traditional music in schools. What began with the first Fèis on the Isle of Barra in 1986 has inspired 47 Fèisean throughout Scotland and recognized as one of the most successful arts initiatives in Scotland led mostly by community volunteers. This video documenting the inspiration behind the first Fèis is worth watching and speaks to a small community's commitment to sustaining its culture:
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I had stumbled upon Fèis Rois when attending the opening night of Celtic Connections. There they unveiled a collaboration between two groups of young musicians from Ross-shire and acclaimed fiddler and composer Duncan Chisholm. Using Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches, a website which contains close to 50,000 oral recordings including stories, songs, music, poetry and factual information in Scotland from the 1930s onwards, these musicians researched a local story, created a film, and composed the soundtrack called the Padruig Morrison Story to explore their cultural heritage. Experiencing this live performance with youth playing a leading role in its creation was inspiring - something I would love to see happen in Alaska to help sustain the Alaska Native culture.
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Little did I know that this film is just one of many projects that Fèis Rois supports to help sustain and revitalize Gaelic language, culture and traditional arts. I interviewed Fiona Dalgetty, Executive Director of Fèis Rois, when I attended an Adult Fèis in Ullapool and learned that this organization provides programming for folks of all ages to the point where it comes full circle: over 400 musicians who have participated in Fèis Rois return as teaching artists. Below is this continuum of lifelong support:
Early Years Programs
Including a Fun Folk app introducing young children to traditional music, song, stories and ceilidh dancing in both Gaelic and Scots language.
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School Music Programs
8-18 weekly classes accompanied by an online song resource for schools called Time to Seinn (Time to Sing).
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Community Weekly Classes
Supported by online tutorials through their Youtube Channel.
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Youth Fèis
Week-long residential youth fèis including classes in musical instruments, Gaelic song, Highland dancing, drama and art.
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Ceilidh Trail
Fifteen outstanding young musicians from across Scotland are selected to tour and perform throughout the country gaining valuable performance experience.
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Additional Support Needs
Songwriting projects in partnerships with programs providing special needs support.
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Interplay
Working with individuals in custody to develop their music making skills as well as their skills for life, learning and work.
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Adult Fèis
This is the Adult Fèis I attended in Ullapool where I took fiddle classes from world-class instructors and musicians, including Aonghas Grant, Louise MacKenzie and Anna-Wendy Stevenson.
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Fiona shared that traditional music has been the entry point for so many people to learn the Gaelic language. For example, as part of their week-long residential youth Fèis, a 45-minute Gaelic language class as part of their daily schedule. Below is a photo of Fiona speaking to the audience at the final performance of the Adult Fèis by all of the instructors. Fiona is a product of Fèis Rois: she's been a child participant, house parent, adult supervisor, fiddle instructor, program director, performed in the Ceilidh trail and now Executive Director for the past ten years. Fiona is a dynamic, inspiring and innovative leader. It was an honor to meet and interview her and experience firsthand one of the programs she helps make possible.
And finally, Feis Rois has a year-round program for adults, which was initially advertised in a local newspaper inviting those who were told they were terrible at music in school yet always wanted to play to come to a hotel for a tutor-led session. Fifty to 60 people showed up for this 2 hour, multi-instrumental slow jam. Since then 30 of them have formed their own band called Fèis the Music and have raised over 7,000 pounds for Fèis Rois through performing at community markets. Fiona shared this from one elderly single woman involved in the group, which has weekly potlucks and gatherings beyond just rehearsal: "'Fiona, I just know I will never be lonely in old age because I have met all of these people.' In terms of genuinely reducing social isolation and loneliness, it's quite powerful."
Thank you, Fiona and the entire Fèis Rois community, for creating such an inspiring model for the revitalization of language and culture through the arts.
And finally, Feis Rois has a year-round program for adults, which was initially advertised in a local newspaper inviting those who were told they were terrible at music in school yet always wanted to play to come to a hotel for a tutor-led session. Fifty to 60 people showed up for this 2 hour, multi-instrumental slow jam. Since then 30 of them have formed their own band called Fèis the Music and have raised over 7,000 pounds for Fèis Rois through performing at community markets. Fiona shared this from one elderly single woman involved in the group, which has weekly potlucks and gatherings beyond just rehearsal: "'Fiona, I just know I will never be lonely in old age because I have met all of these people.' In terms of genuinely reducing social isolation and loneliness, it's quite powerful."
Thank you, Fiona and the entire Fèis Rois community, for creating such an inspiring model for the revitalization of language and culture through the arts.
