Reviews
Artist:Iona Fyfe Album: In The Bleak Midwinter (Scots)
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 1
Website: https://ionafyfe.bandcamp.com/
Iona Fyfe is a bit of a powerhouse. Many artists have experienced major setbacks since the start of the pandemic basically blew the good ship Folk Music out of the water.
2020's Scots Performer of the Year (and a finalist in the current BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year), Iona had been, till that point, touring extensively in the UK and on the Continent and had received a rapturous reception for her performance at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow back in January. For an artist at the top of her game, the COVID outbreak was a major setback.
Nevertheless, she's never stopped working, issuing singles, organising online concerts, appearing at virtual festivals, doing internet and steam radio performances, and working voluntarily as Communications Officer for Oor Vyce, an organisation campaigning for a Scots Language Act.
That last role is one that is very dear to her heart, and has undoubtedly influenced her decision to produce a Scots language version of In the Bleak Midwinter. It's a song, now very much part of the Christmas trad repertoire, that was originally based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti and set to a tune by Gustav Holst. Her fellow Scot, Bert Jansch, did a memorable version of it that I play every year.
It therefore takes some courage to render such a well-established piece into Scots. Even more so to add an extra verse of her own composition. So, how did it turn out?
Well, I'm glad to say Mr Jansch, for all his massive talent, will be taking a wee back seat this year.
Ms Fyfe has done a masterful job of turning an English classic into a Scots one. There won't be many Christmas sessions this year, but I'm willing to bet this will be getting sung around the tables in folk clubs and bars for Christmas 2021.
Iona has a beautiful clear voice, and invests the song with a strong emotional intelligence. She's accompanied on this by Michael Biggins who provides an atmospheric piano accompaniment. It's maybe just my personal feeling as a Scot, but hearing it in my own tongue, and with such a fine performance, brings a warm glow, even in this bleak midwinter of COVID.
In the Bleak Midwinter is available for download on Iona Fyfe's Bandcamp site. All who like a good Christmas song, and all those presenters in Radioland tearing their hair out looking for new Christmas material, that's the place to go!
Bob Leslie
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In The Bleak Midwinter
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