We are delighted to present a musical performance from the touring MacKinnon Collection exhibit at Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean in Stornoway.  

In the recorded concert, Western Isles-based musicians Hannah Knight and Jane Hepburn Macmillan perform Scottish Gaelic music inspired by the photography on display at the museum.

Performance list

Hannah Knight

An Samhradh – the summer

Eitseal – Eitshal, a summit in the Isle of Lewis

Tom an t- searraich – a hillock on the Bragar moor

Jane Hepburn Macmillan

Tighinn Còmhla - Coming Together

Sounds of Huisinis (composer: Jane H Macmillan)

Jane said: 'This piece was written to capture the mood and feeing of walking along Huisinis beach on the Isle of Harris. Its intention is to transport you there, with the ‘ups and downs’ in notation and slides mirroring the sounds of constant rolling waves meeting the sand.'

Togail Cùrs - Setting Sail (composer: Jane H Macmillan) 

Of this piece, Jane writes: 'This was written for the 100 year commemoration of the Iolaire disaster. It was one of three tunes telling the story of what took place that evening. This particular jig, a lively one, was written to capture the mood of the sailors who would have, no doubt, been ready and excited to start their journey home.

Jointly acquired by the organisations in 2018, the MacKinnon Collection - also known as Scotland's Photograph Album - was amassed by collector Murray MacKinnon and provides a snapshot of life in Scotland between 1840 and 1940. 

Scotland’s Photograph Album: The MacKinnon Collection toured to Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean, Duff House and Kirkcudbright Galleries in 2021 and 2022.

Although the tour is now complete, you can explore the MacKinnon Collection using resources provided by the Galleries and Library.