Treas suaile

Julie Fowlis and Duncan Chisholm’s new Iolaire commission – An Treas Suaile – has received high praise following its premiere in An Lanntair.

The musical duo recounted the tragic story of the tragedy when over 200 naval men returning home at the end of WW1 drowned after the Admiralty yacht Iolaire sank outside Stornoway in the early hours of New Year's Day 1919.

Audience reaction acclaimed the sold out show as an ‘honourable and beautiful piece of work’ with the storytelling of the tragedy delivering a ‘powerful, emotional and beautiful’ experience.

One hailed the “wonderfully perfect night. So emotional,” while another described it as ‘probably the best piece of musical work I’ve witnessed in nearly 60 years.’

Told in documentary style in both Gaelic and English, using war reel footage, new and traditional music, archive recordings and personal testimonies, events are tracked from the declaration of war through to the collision on the Beasts of Holm, the casualties and the survivors.

Slowly, the clock ticks down the four years of war, relaying the story of ordinary young men through their letters home, Stornoway Gazette reports, news film, and original documents.

Portraits of many of the dead flash up on screen as Fowlis reads out their names, giving their Gaelic patronymics.

Chisholm’s haunting fiddle playing navigates the piano and string quartet - Hamish Napier, Su-a Lee, Megan Henderson, Donald Grant and Felix Tanner - through the

One tale is of teenager Roderick Murray of Ness who writes home diligently from the battlefield in Mesopotamia, in the Middle East. On 13 November 1917, his father pens an affectionate letter to the front, unaware his son, now aged 20, was killed in action the previous week.

There is also Malcolm Maciver of Breasclete who appealed his call-up because there was no-one else to look after his infirm mother and ill sister. All township crofters signed a petition in his favour. But a local tribunal rejected the plea. He was later to perish on the Iolaire.

The title of the performance refers to John Finlay Macleod of Ness who leapt off the stricken Iolaire with a rope, jumping - with precise timing - into the surging swell so the the third and largest wave will wash him ashore. Many of those who survived, did so by means of this rope.

An Treas Suaile is An Lanntair’s second major Gaelic music commission commemorating the forthcoming centenary of the Iolaire disaster.

It was co-commissioned by the arts centre and 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary.

Julie Fowlis and Duncan Chisholm said: “It was a great honour for us to be trusted with this commission.

“Being offered the opportunity to work on and present An Treas Suaile to the community of Lewis was a real pinnacle in our creative lives, and for this we must thank An Lanntair, 14-18 NOW and all the other sponsors for having the faith in us to produce something fitting and appropriate for the 100 year commemoration of the Iolaire disaster.

“From the beginning we strived to create a piece which would honour all those aboard that night - the men who lost their lives, those who survived, and indeed we pay tribute to the families who suffered so much was a result.”

An Treas Suaile will tour to Eden Court and Celtic Connections in January.

New Iolaire commission, An Treas Suaile, premieres in Stornoway

14 November 2018

Photos: Christian Cooksey

The Iolaire story told in a multi-media performance

Duncan Chisholm