Internationally renowned piper and composer Fred Morrison has been commissioned by Celtic Connections to write a piece for this year’s opening concert on 12 January 2005.

Paracas, Rhapsody of the Gael, is a large-scale production – a celebration of the unique nature and power of Scottish Gaelic music.  The musical journey covers various themes - experiences both personal and collective -  which have been significant in the lives of the Gaels, beginning with an expression of the richness of Gaelic music, through the harsh realities of island life, hardship and disease, the Clearances, and ending with an  a sense of how the culture has prevailed and is celebrated today.   

Morrison has worked in close collaboration with renowned composer Mark Sheridan in creating the piece which will involve many of Scotland’s best loved traditional musicians, symphony orchestra and choir.  Words to accompany the piece, written by this year’s winner of the Mod’s Bardic Crown, Aonghais MacNeacail, will be narrated in Gaelic by MacNeacail and in English by Iain Anderson.

The music of Fred Morrison is firmly rooted in the Hebridean tradition.  His father, a native of Uist, which is now Fred’s home – a stronghold of piping - was his first teacher and he taught using cainntearachd, a specialized vocal technique, which is used instead of written music, where each rhythm is given a particular sound.

Winner of many of the competitive piping world’s top prizes, Morrison’s technique is startlingly accurate, which enables him to improvise and make the music his own, and he has become known for the quality of individual expression he delivers at every performance.  His music is often likened to jazz.

This has been an exciting year for Fred Morrison, with performances across Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the USA.  In addition:

• He won the Macallan Trophy for a record-breaking 7th time at the Lorient Festival, Brittany. 
• He has developed his very own brand of Border pipes, which will be launched in January.
• He has been nominated in the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ category at this year’s Trad Awards (www.bbc.co.uk/celticroots). 

A full biography, press photos and reviews can be found on Fred Morrison’s new website: www.fredmorrison.com   

Click here to read the Arts Journal interview with Fred Morrison.