Rachel Newton – Sealladh (Hudson Records, 2024)
Sealladh (pronounced ‘shall-ugh’), the latest album from singer, harpist, and composer Rachel Newton, originated as a commission for the National Galleries of Scotland. This project celebrated over eighty years of live music programming at the Gallery and coincided with the opening of the new Scottish Galleries, which house an extensive collection of Scottish artworks.
Each exquisitely made track on the album is inspired by a specific painting and reflects the mythology, language, history, culture, and landscapes depicted in these artworks. Rachel Newton presents a set of Celtic-infused pieces that are lovely, calming and mesmerizing and settled firmly in Scottish musical traditions.
The album features found sound recordings by Grant Anderson, cello by Alice Allen, production by Andy Bell, and contributions from Newton on vocals, harp, piano, and synthesizer. The Gaelic word ‘sealladh’, meaning a view, spectacle, vision, or supernatural sight, encapsulates the essence of the album.
William McTaggart (b. 1835), a Gaelic speaker from Kintyre, is a key inspiration for Newton. His paintings of Scottish seascapes, such as ‘Machrihanish Bay’ and ‘Quiet Sunset, Machrihanish’, influenced many tracks. Newton’s visits to McTaggart’s painting locations in Kintyre, accompanied by Anderson, who recorded natural sounds like waves and birdsongs, further enhanced the album’s connection to McTaggart’s work.
Another major influence is Phoebe Anna Traquair (b. 1852, Dublin), who moved to Edinburgh and became one of the first women artists to gain mainstream recognition in Scotland. Her series ‘The Progress of the Soul’ inspired Newton to create improvisational harp pieces that interpret the tapestries’ themes of ‘Entrance’, ‘Despair’, ‘Stress’, and ‘Victory’.
John Duncan (b. 1866, Dundee), a prominent figure in the Celtic Revival, also features on the album. Newton uses his paintings to explore Celtic mythology, intertwining traditional Gaelic songs with new compositions.
Rachel Newton expressed her gratitude to the National Galleries of Scotland for the commission, appreciating the access to the paintings and the insights provided by experts like Freya Spoor and Gráinne Rice. This collaboration enabled her to create an auditory companion to these stunning artworks.
Sealladh is released today, May 31, 2024, as an art book with a CD, including all the inspiring paintings. The LP comes with a deluxe booklet featuring the paintings.
Buy Sealladh.
Author: Ryan Emmert
