Saturday saw my first session for voice recordings with my trusty helpers – Islay High School’s art and gaelic teachers Neil Galligan and Jason Bond. We began by using the art department as a location to record voices as it is a very quiet space to record in. Both Neil and Jason spoke and assisted me with recording the creative writing pieces that I have been developing. I introduced Jason to how my recording equipment worked. I recorded Jason then he had a go recording Neil and myself. It was rewarding to do a little skills sharing!
Here you can read Neil’s creative writing contributions that describe his experience at Glen Finglas.
Deer trodden moss
Mountain burn gleaning cold
Finches play in sky above
Young buds reaching upward
Lichen scrunched by fingertips
Drip splutter gargle glopp
Chirp twitter tweet swoop
Crunch snap squelch scuffle
Scrunch rustle flutter muffle
As well as these pieces we also recorded a short piece of text that was written by Royal Mail workers in 1997. They were given the opportunity to purchase, plant and dedicate a tree in Glen Finglas. In 1999 over 1500 trees had been planted and these are commemorated in a book and cairn located in the glen. Here is the text that was written for this project and I have recorded this for the audio work.
The path up to this cairn is past the running burn and trees
Brings you up to this viewpoint where it’s made for you to please
Your thoughts can be of anything, of people of your pet
The young, the old, the rich, the poor, or someone you have met
As we view across the loch at the hills so far away
We remember those we love and loved as we came through life’s way
Some are gone in body but in spirit are still here
And this place can hold the memories we want to hold so dear
