Rob Donn Mackay

Rob Donn Mackay was a Gaelic poet who lived and worked in the north-west of Sutherland throughout his life (1714-1778). He remains famous in the north-west for his poetry and songs which recorded and satirized aspects of life in the 18th c Highlands, its people and culture. He also composed poetry and song in the tradition of the bard of the chief’s court, celebrating, eulogizing and berating the chiefs, nobility and gentry of the region.

Four of Rob Donn’s songs have influenced the development of my work this term.

The first two songs describe the emigration of Colonel Hugh, son of Iain, son of Hector, Mackay of Scourie to Jamaica in the 1740s and the pain caused to his abandoned lover Christine Brodie. The two songs take the form of a call and response. I worked with the Gaelic singer and musician, Mari Napier, to record new versions of both the colonel’s and Christine’s song, the latter of which forms the score of my film installation.

The third song of Rob Donn’s to influence by work this term is his elegy for the Earl of Sutherland, who died at a young age in 1766 leaving his estates to his infant daughter, Elizabeth Sutherland (later responsible for the clearances upon her lands). Rob Donn’s elegy imagines himself entering the dining room in the family’s home at Dunrobin Castle and seeing their portraits hanging upon the wall. A situation which may, or may not, be mirrored in my own installation.

The final song of Rob Donn’s that I wish to mention here is the Pibroch of Isabel Mackay, a famous song, which provided the inspiration for the unseen character referred to in my film.

One final thing to mention - Gaelic culture places great emphasis on the traditions of song, poetry and music rather than visual arts.