Pur - The Lassies' Reply

Shona Donaldson - Scots Singer Of The Year - MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2009

(September 2009) 12 tracks: My Heart's In The Highlands (Tha Mo Chridhe) * John Anderson, my Jo * Aon Phòg Ghràidh (Ae Fond Kiss) * The Slave's Lament * Fhathast na Mo Dhùisg (Aye Waukin' O) * I'm O'er Young To Marry Yet (Ro-òg gu Pòsadh) * Cagaran Gaolach (Highland Balou) * Chan Eil Ach Cùram Air Gach Làimh (Green Grow the Rashes O) * Truis na h-Òisgean (Ca' The Yowes) * The Highland Widow's Lament * O My Luv Is Like A Red Red Rose * Auld Lang Syne (Air Sgath nan Iomadh Linn).

The Lassies' Reply is a unique release by the newly formed duo Pur, who are two of Scotland's brightest young traditional musicians - Scots singer and fiddler Shona Donaldson and Gaelic singer Katie Mackenzie.

This album of the songs of Robert Burns is released to coincide with the celebrations in the Year Of Homecoming, and demonstrates that both Gaelic and Scots cultures can co-exist and complement each other very well. Both girls sing 'their' own language but also sing the 'other' to demonstrate the interchangeability and common ground of the cultures.

The songs include many composed by Burns on his Highland tour in 1787. The Highlands and Gaelic had a profound effect on Burns, a fact which is often overlooked - Pur have included several of Burns' songs inspired by this area.

Katie Mackenzie is a graduate in Gaelic Song from the Royal Scottish Academy Of Music And Drama. Brought up in Dingwall, she has sung and played the fiddle and clàrsach since a small child. She has competed at many festivals including The Pan Celtic Festival, International Eisteddfod and the Lorient Festival. She has performed regularly at Edinburgh and Stirling Castles and also at Balmoral for the Royal Family.

Shona Donaldson from Tarland is one of Scotland's brightest young tradition bearers. She was a finalist in The Young Traditional Musician Of The Year in 2005 and at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2006. She studied at the RSAMD and is well known as a fiddle player and singer of traditional Scots songs.

The songs are arranged by producer Irvin Duguid in bright, fresh and contemporary style, reflecting the youth and vitality of the performers. The new arrangements, which leave the original melodies entirely intact and completely familiar, are based on traditional acoustic instrumentation with embellishment from Mr McFall's Chamber String Quartet.

The extensive talents of some of Scotland's best accompanying musicians also include John Goldie (guitar), multi-instrumentalist Anna Massie, Fraser Spiers (harmonica), Mary Ann Kennedy (clàrsach), James Mackintosh (percussion) and Gary Innes (accordion).

"If Robert Burns were alive in 2009, these are The Lassies he would be writing about..."