The CD explores the Legend of Cill Chriosd in the genre of what might be most commonly referred to as "post-rock." It's a very spacious and rich sound, involving the instruments you might find in any rock ensemble.

8 MP3 Songs
WORLD: World Fusion, ROCK: Progressive Rock



Details:
ANDREW DOUGLAS â CILL CHRIOSD (2006)


Andrew is proud to present Matt Griffin on guitars and vocalist Joanna
Chapman-Smith as accompanists on an album that will undoubtedly turn
some heads.


TRACKS:
THE BATTLE OF THE STROME
CELEBRATION OF THE MACKENZIES
MACDONALDS MOURN
LOCH CARRON
MACRANALD AND THE CHIEF
THE SERMON
THE BURNING OF CILL CHRIOSD
ECHOES

The Legendâ¦

Fueled by longstanding land disputes, tension and violence between the
MacDonalds of Glengarry and the MacKenzies of Kintail reaches its
height near the turn of the 17th century. Advancements of the
MacKenzies into Glengarry lands lead to a series of skirmishes- one of
which claims the life of Angus MacDonald, son of the MacDonald chief.
This aggressive MacKenzie campaign eventually culminates with (1) The
Battle of the Strome in 1602. The Castle Strome is extremely
well-fortified yet the MacKenzies are easily able to break its
defenses after several MacDonald women unknowingly pour well-water
into the castle's gunpowder supply. As a condition of defeat, the
MacKenzies allow the MacDonalds to escape with their lives provided
they surrender the surrounding lands of Loch Carron permanently. The
MacKenzies destroy Castle Strome following their victory in order to
prevent any further use as well as undoubtedly humiliate the
MacDonalds.

As the (2) MacKenzies celebrate their victory at the Battle of the
Strome, the (3) MacDonald clan mourns the loss of Angus. Rumours reach
the MacDonalds that Angus's body had been buried by the MacKenzies in
the doorway of a church so as to allow members of the congregation to
walk over it every Sunday. The MacDonalds are infuriated by such
rumours and their hatred towards their neighbours to the East only
grows over the winter. (4) For the time being however, the MacKenzies
enjoy respite from battle while home in Kintail and the lands of Loch
Carron sit peaceful and unoccupied.

Hearing of the impending death of his cousin and aged MacDonald chief,
Donald Gruamach, Alan MacRanald of Lundy makes his way to Glengarry to
(5) meet with the chief and assume leadership of the MacDonald clan.
MacRanald arrives just in time to hear the chief's last dying request:
avenge the death of Angus and allow no mercy upon the MacKenzies who
killed him.

On an early Sunday morning in the spring of 1603, a raiding party led
by Alan MacRanald arrives in the small MacKenzie village of Urray to
find the entire parish (6) at worship inside a small church called
Cill Chriosd. The vulnerability of the worshipping MacKenzies allows
MacRanald his opportunity for revenge. Without delay, he orders his
men to encircle the church, barricade the doors and (7) set fire to
its thatched roof. Any attempt to escape is met by the sword of
MacRanald. As flames consume the church, a piper plays the war tune of
the MacDonalds, mocking the cries of the parishioners trapped inside.
To this day pipers know this tune as Cill Chriosd.



CILL CHRIOSD IS A MUSICAL REALIZATION OF LEGEND OF THE BURNING OF CILL
CHRIOSD. IT SHOWCASES A FUSION OF THE ANCIENT MUSIC OF THE HIGHLAND
BAGPIPE WITH THE POST-ROCK GENRE. FEATURING ANDREW DOUGLAS ON THE
PIPES AND MATT GRIFFIN ON THE GUITAR, THIS IS A SOUND YOU WON'T HEAR
ANYWHERE ELSE.