Siubhal nan Salm
Sunday 12th December 2004, 6.05pm, Grampian and STV
Could the origins of Gospel Music be white? This highly controversial theory is put forward by Willie Ruff, an African American jazz musician and Professor of Music at Yale University. Professor Ruff believes that Gaelic Psalm singing is part of the DNA of all African American music. For him it represents the last vestiges of European "lining out" - where a precentor puts out a line and the congregation follows - and that only the Gaels and African Americans are singing in this form today: "It's the only game in town - the only two people carrying on this tradition, are the marginalized black, and the Gaels in the Hebrides".
"Celtic Connections" broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy embarks on a musical and historical odyssey to ascertain whether the Professor's theory has any basis. She joins ten Psalm singers who travel from Scotland to Alabama, where they "line out" with the local congregation. En route she discovers that many of the early Scots emigrants did purchase slaves, whom they introduced to Christianity. But did this include "lining out"? Broadcaster Billy Kay is sceptical: "I think if a white man had come up with this theory it would be regarded as racist nonsense".
Dr John Purser, an ethno-musicologist from Skye, believes there is a connection.
Although "lining out" was originally an English form of worship he is confident the Gaels took it with them to America.
Mary Ann follows the music back in time to discover that shared worship did take place between Africans enslaved by Highland Scots plantation owners. Although many slaves endured dreadful hardship and cruelty, others were treated with respect.
Jim Blue, descendant of a slave owned by emigrant Gael Daniel Blue, is not bitter, he feels he came to terms with the issue of slavery a long time ago. Indeed he is in regular contact with the white descendants of Daniel Blue, whom he regards as an extension of his own family: "We are a family joined by more than just circumstance, actually by blood".
In programme two, which can be seen next week on Sunday 19th December, Mary Ann meets Dr Bobby Jones, America's most popular Gospel artist. Although lining out is recognised as an earlier form of Gospel, the Gaelic psalms are quite new to him, and he is fascinated by their similarity.
Siubhal nan Salm is an Eyeline Media production. It is funded by Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gaidhlig, Scottish Screen and Channel 4. It is in Gaelic with English subtitles.
For further information please contact the producer:
Terry Wolsey
Tel - 01674 850261
E-mail: terry@eyeline-media.co.uk
