Drostan Macraith

Drostan Macraith is a new name to me and his music has a remarkable combination of familiarity and strangeness, although many will probably not be familiar with his rhythms.
Macraith’s principle instrument is the Lyre, a hand held harp that dates back to Grecian times – the design of the one he uses dates back about 1200 years – and he sings in Scottish Gaelic. The album was recorded near Taunton but there is a strong Bardic tradition from Cornwall, through the West Country, Wales, the North West and up into Scotland, so it is not so improbable for a Scottish Bard Baile (local poet or storyteller) to turn up in Somerset.

As to the music. Macraith sings in Gaelic and he has a soft and easy way of singing, plenty of feeling in his music but not shouty or strident. And the same could be said of his lyre, a six stringed hand held harp, which can be played in a rhythmic or melodic manner.

The rhythms will be familiar to anyone versed in folk music, the Scottish Gaelic words probably less so. But quality music transcends language and I found that he sings well enough, and the lyre is musical enough that I was happily able to listen to his songs even though his words were unclear.
There are a few songs in English, ‘By Your Side’, a love song to his wife, the poet Nicole Durman, ‘Bold Fenian Men’ a song about Irish republicanism and ‘Mingulay Boat Song’ which would be familiar in theme to any fishing community in the UK.



The album is a delight to listen to. MacRaith has a fine voice, and his lyre has a sound somewhere between a banjo and a full blown harp – the combination is captivating.

Available from musicosis.co.uk