Blair Douglas - A Summer In Skye

(October 1996) 14 tracks: A Summer in Skye * The Skye Glen Waltz * The Second Sight * The Landlord's Walk * A' Bhean lonmhainn (The Beloved Wife) * lain Angus Douglas's Welcome to the Big Wide World / The Woodworker / An Corran Glas * The Gugahunter * NicMhathain's Thank You * An Còcaire Beag (The Little Chef) * Skye at Last! * Fear Beag a' Chridhe Mhòir (Little One of the Big Heart) * Nelson Mandela's Welcome to the City of Glasgow * Ora Nam Buadh (Hymn of the Graces) * Miss Ina MacLellan's Air.

Founder-member of Runrig and superb instrumentalist and composer, Blair Douglas was born and brought up in Skye. On his mother's side he has strong connections with North Uist while his father's people had moved to Skye from the Border country around 150 years ago. When he was 15 the family relocated to Glasgow but returned to their home in Braes after a number of years in the city.

Blair was inspired to buy an accordion after hearing the playing of the late, lamented Niall Cheòis of Lewis. In 1973, having quickly mastered the instrument he teamed up with Calum and Rory MacDonald, fellow Skyemen with North Uist connections. Together they formed the Run Rig Dance Band to play at the North Uist & Bernera Association concert in Glasgow. The band's background was in Gaelic/Highland music though somewhat tempered by exposure to rock so much so that part of their original repertoire allegedly included 'gems' such as Whisky in the Jar and Snoopy vs the Red Baron, both classics for 70's cover bands.

During this time the band played mostly at the weekends allowing Blair to continue as a student at Glasgow University where he graduated with an economics degree. A short flirtation with a full time playing career in the late 70's proved unsuccessful and eventually led to Blair and Runrig (the 'Dance Band' tag having by this time been dumped) going their separate ways. However Blair did return to play on Runrig's Recovery in 1981.

His first solo album, Celtology, came out in 1984 and featured songs rather than his better known instrumental style. It also included a few compositions which were not his own. Subsequent CDs are remarkable because the material is largely Blair's own. Beneath the Beret published in 1990 included Kate Martin's Waltz which became an instant hit with traditional musicians and remains a classic of the genre and Solus m'Aigh a beautifully haunting song which he dedicated to his friend Fr. Colin MacInnes.

A Summer in Skye, many of whose themes are based on Alexander Smith's celebrated book of the same name was launched in 1996. Nic Mathain's Thank You on this CD was written for Blair's wife Marion, née Matheson. Other highlights on this album are A' Bhean Ionmhainn, The Landlord's Walk, and Nelson Mandela's Welcome to the City of Glasgow. The latter, like so many Blair compositions, has been picked up by other performers.

In the tradition of many Celtic composers, Blair's music draws from the deep well of social and political injustice, both at home and abroad. The plight of the Gael provides the local backdrop while 20th century icons like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Michael Collins bring, through their own local struggles, an international dimension. Where some would have turned to anger and brought bitterness and cynicism to the table, Blair's music exudes hope and brings a different kind of fruit.

The music of Blair Douglas comes from the heart, touches the soul, and was born beneath the ever present gaze of Ben Tianavaig. Blair, firmly rooted in Uist and Skye with Border connections, profoundly influenced by Gaelic music but drawing on musical idioms (and political struggles) from Scotland and Ireland to Africa, now tunes into the music of the persecuted Acadian minority in Louisiana. Where next? Who knows, but we're looking forward to it.

"The work on offer here pushes Blair to the forefront of contemporary Celtic music (if he wasn't there already)."