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As part of our celebration of the Royal National Mòd being in Paisley this year we wanted to shine a light on some of Renfrewshire’s young trad performers.
We met Emily Fraser at the start of the year for the launch of Mòd Phàislig. The 18-year-old harpist from Paisley has strong family links with the traditional music scene and has even competed in the Mòd in previous years.
Emily has been involved with a number of local arts groups over the years and, most recently, performed as part of the annual Ceilidh Trail tour organised by Fèis Phàislig.
Talking about her family links with Fèis she said: “My aunt was part of the Fèis Arainn (Arran) committee and she would help out a lot. That’s how my sister and I started to go along and how we met Grant who then decided to start the Fèis here in Paisley.”
Emily has been playing the harp for around seven years now. Speaking of her love of the instrument and trad music she commented: “I think the harp is a lovely instrument. It’s got such a lovely tone to it and there are so many different techniques you can try with it as well.
“What appeals to me about trad music is the community that comes along with it. There are so many great people involved in the music scene that you can work with. With the rise in popularity of events like Celtic Connections and the Mòd there are more opportunities for musicians as more people become aware of what trad music can be and want to experience it.”
Emily has competed in the Mòd before as a soloist and also won one of the competitions as part of a harp group. She talked of her excitement of the event taking place in Paisley this year. “I’ve been looking forward to having the Mòd on my doorstep this year. It’s such a great opportunity to get together and boost your musical ability if you’re a performer but it’s also just a great festival to come along, get involved and enjoy as a spectator.”
Mar phàirt den chomharrachadh againn air a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a bhith ann am Pàislig am-bliadhna bha sinn airson solas a chuir air cuid de luchd-ciùil òga à Siorrachd Rinn Friù.
Choinnich sinn ri Emily Friseal aig toiseach na bliadhna airson cuir air bhog Mhòd Phàislig. Tha ceanglaichean teaghlaich làidir aig a’ chlàrsaiche à Pàislig, a tha 18 bliadhna a dh’aois, ri saoghal a’ chiùil thraidiseanta agus tha i fiù’s air a bhith a’ farpais aig a’ Mhòd sna bliadhnaichean roimhe sin.
Tha Emily air a bhith an sàs ann an grunn bhuidhnean ealain ionadail thar nam bliadhnaichean agus, o chionn ghoirid, chluich i mar phàirt den chuairt bhliadhnail air a’ Chèilidh air Chuairt a bhios Fèis Phàislig a’ cur air dòigh.
A’ bruidhinn mu na ceanglaichean teaghlaich aice ris an Fhèis thuirt i: “Bha piuthar mo mhàthar na pàirt de chomataidh Fèis Arainn agus chuidicheadh i tòrr. Sin mar a thòisich mi fhèin agus mo phiuthar a’ dol ann agus mar a choinnich sinn ri Grant a chuir roimhe an Fhèis a thòiseachadh an seo ann am Pàislig.”
Tha Emily air a bhith a’ cluich na clàrsaich airson timcheall air seachd bliadhna a-nis. A’ bruidhinn mun ghaol a th’ aice air an ionnsramaid agus ceòl traidiseanta, thuirt i: “Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e inneal àlainn a th’ anns a’ chlàrsaich. Tha tòna cho breagha aice agus tha uimhir de dhòighean eadar-dhealaichte ann as urrainn dhut feuchainn leatha cuideachd.
“Is e an rud a tha tarraingeach dhomh mu cheòl traidiseanta a’ choimhearsnachd a tha na chois. Tha uimhir de dhaoine sgoinneil an sàs ann an saoghal a’ chiùil leis an urrainn dhut obrachadh. Leis mar a tha tachartasan leithid Celtic Connections agus am Mòd a’ dol am meud, tha barrachd chothroman ann do luchd-ciùil agus barrachd dhaoine a’ faighinn eòlas air cò ris a dh’fhaodas ceòl traidiseanta a bhith agus ag iarraidh eòlas fhaighinn air.”
Tha Emily air a bhith a’ farpais anns a’ Mhòd roimhe seo mar neach-ciùil agus cuideachd air tè de na farpaisean a bhuannachadh mar phàirt de bhuidheann chlàrsaichean. Bhruidhinn i air an toileachas a th’ aice mun tachartas a tha a’ gabhail àite ann am Pàislig am-bliadhna. “Tha mi air a bhith a’ coimhead air adhart ris a’ Mhòd a bhith air an stairsnich agam am-bliadhna. ’S e deagh chothrom a th’ ann tighinn còmhla agus do chomas ciùil àrdachadh mas e neach-ciùil a th’ annad ach ’s e fìor fhèis a th’ ann cuideachd airson tighinn ann, a dhol an sàs agus tlachd fhaighinn mar neach-amhairc.”
