Mairi
MacInnes
official website

(Orain Chloinne - Songs for Children)

Greentrax Recordings CDTRAX211 (September 2002)
You can buy this album online at MusicScotland.

23 tracks: Dandling Song; The Indian Song; 1,2,3; Little Red Thrush; I Hear Thunder; I Want to Be a Piper; Yellow Tractor; Callum The Rabbit; Maol; New Shoes; Boat; Socks; Santa; Little Boy; Moon Behind The Clouds; Penny's Dance; Christ Lullaby; The Pet Lamb; Tick Tock; The Moon; Crab; Steam Boat; Rocking Horse.

This is Mairi's fourth solo album - her first children's album. As a child growing up in South Uist, Mairi was surrounded by other children where Gaelic song and poetry was an integral part of play and learning. Many of the songs which Mairi learnt were traditional songs, taught both in school and in the wider community.

When the BBC approached Mairi to record the first series of Orain is Rannan (Songs and Rhymes), she was excited at the prospect of not only singing childrens' songs which she learnt during her childhood but also at being given the opportunity to compose.

Such was the success of the initial series that the BBC again commissioned Mairi to sing and present a further 60 programmes. Helping Mairi to compose material for the second series were Angela MacEachen, Allan MacDonald and the late Christopher Dillon.

"Bidh a h-uile sian Tickettyboo" was a phrase often used by the late Christopher Dillon. Mairi wishes to dedicate this CD to his memory. Chris was an inspiration to her whilst preparing for the series of Orain is Rannan. He is sadly missed by many in the Gaelic world.

With William Jackson (clarsach, whistles, keyboards, bodhran) and Tony McManus (guitar, fiddle).