Lauren MacColl - Tomnahurich

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From the album: The Seer
Released September 1, 2017


'The Seer', a Fèis Rois commission, is a new work by Scottish fiddler Lauren MacColl.
The music depicts the life and prophecies of Coinneach Odhar, the Brahan Seer, a legendary 17th Century prophet who spent much of his life in Easter Ross.
*Supported by Creative Scotland.


“Ships with sails unfurled will sail eastward and westward by the back of Tomnahurich hill”. As well as predicting the Caledonian Canal, he also told of a cemetery on the hill which is often associated with fiddlers and fairies. Tomnahurich hill would be “under lock and key, the fairies secured within.”



You can buy this album on her bandcamp page, here: https://laurenmaccoll.bandcamp.com/
Also available on Amazon and iTunes.



Music and words composed by Lauren MacColl MCPS/PRS

Lauren MacColl - fiddle
Mairearad Green - accordion, border pipes
Megan Henderson - fiddle, piano, backing vocals
James Mackintosh – drum kit, percussion
Anna Massie - guitar, mandolin
Rachel Newton - vocals, harp, viola

Recorded on location at The Stables, Cromarty during April 2017 by Barry Reid
Mixed by Barry Reid
Mastered by Iain Hutchison at GloWormRecording
Photography and artwork by Somhairle MacDonald



Lauren MacColl -
Website: http://www.laurenmaccoll.co.uk/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lmaccoll
Bandcamp: https://laurenmaccoll.bandcamp.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LaurenMacColl
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lauren-maccoll


Fèis Rois -
Website: http://www.feisrois.org/
bandcamp: https://feisrois.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feisrois/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FeisRois


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The Brahan Seer

The 17th century Brahan Seer, Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche (Sallow Kenneth, the One who Knows), is a name precious to all true Highlanders. With his magic stone to his eye, he could ‘see into the far future’ and his two hundred predictions - some doom-laden, others profound - range over the centuries. Allegedly born in Lewis, he was employed at Brahan Castle, home to Earl Kenneth and Countess Isabella Mackenzie. When Isabella had him arrested, tried and condemned to be burned for foreseeing rightly that the Earl was unfaithful, he then pronounced in astonishing detail the downfall of Clan Mackenzie. His commemorative stone stands near the Lighthouse on Fortrose Ness.

“There is a shadow over Culloden, but that shadow will rise and the sun shine more brightly over Scotland again.” Elizabeth Sutherland

The inspiration for this music is drawn firstly from stories I remember from my childhood growing up in the Black Isle, and latterly by the writing of Alexander Mackenzie*, Elizabeth Sutherland** and Rev. Wm. Morrison***. I am enthralled by the words and imagery contained in the Brahan Seer’s prophecies, and it has been an honour to be asked to write this collection of music for an organisation dear to my heart.

-Lauren MacColl