Christmas Screenings to Showcase Acclaimed Scots Performers In Beautiful and Historic Settings
The beloved annual Pipes of Christmas concert, a joyous celebration of Celtic music and poetry produced by the Learned Kindred of Currie, returns online for a joyous 22nd year.
Traditionally held in packed out venues, the 2020 production will instead bring this much-loved ‘festival of the soul’ to a worldwide audience in a new, unique, and creative way. Taking the viewer to beautiful and scenic locations across Scotland, all shot in HD video.
This year, in light of Covid-19 restrictions, the Kindred has produced a completely new virtual concert which has been filmed primarily in Scotland. The production features performances by many Traditional performers with selections offered in English and in Scots Gaelic.
The production will include performances by Gillebride MacMillan, Christine Primrose, Jennifer Port and Jamie MacDougall from such beautiful settings as Glasgow Cathedral, the Isle of Skye, Dornoch Cathedral, the Isle of South Uist and Glencorse Old Kirk.
Robert Currie, President of the Learned Kindred of Currie, a not-for-profit organization, said,“While the making of this new virtual concert has brought badly needed employment to creative people who might not otherwise be working, the Learned Kindred wanted to do more.
“For 2020, we will use part of the proceeds from the production to support the artists working in the beleaguered creative industries.”
“This is in addition to our continued support of young people in education in Scotland, Canada and the United States through scholarships and sponsorships.”
“It’s a small gesture, but during the Christmas season, a time of hope and anticipation, it was important to us that we didn’t sit this one out.”
The concert begins with Christmas greetings from our three guest Readers, Andy Weir, James Robinson and Mhairi Calvey, all from the film, “Braveheart.”
Global Accessibility
Unlike past live performances, this year’s concert will be accessible around the world and free-of-charge. Currie said, “In this dreadful year, too many livelihoods have been severely impacted – the creative and performing industries have been particularly hard hit. With many traditional St Andrews Day, Christmas and other productions cancelled, lights have gone off in theatres and performance halls across the world.”
“As an international arts organization, we knew we could and should take a proactive stance in securing a first-class production while also doing our part for the arts and artists.”
Learned Kindred’s only fundraiser
This annual concert is the Learned Kindred’s only fundraiser, generating their operating budget for the year ahead. Losing the concert income is financially devastating to outreach programmes which support young people in education in Scotland, Canada and the United States through scholarships and sponsorships.
Recipients of concert funds have included the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, the National Piping Centre, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Royal National Mòr and the Gaelic College in Nova Scotia, among others.
New Advent Video Calendar for 2020
The Learned Kindred is also proud to introduce our Video Advent Calendar – a festive series of video webcasts – a much needed helping of Christmas cheer in these difficult times. To compliment the new format, the production team commissioned a series of inspirational films from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Nova Scotia and New York.
The first webcast will air on the Kindred’s YouTube channel on 29 November 2020, the first Sunday in Advent, with further videos on following Sundays, culminating with the one-hour virtual production on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
For a complete schedule of broadcasts, visit the concert website at www.pipesofchristmas.com.
Donations Gratefully Accepted
Currie added, “It is our hope that via a crowdfunding programme, our friends, family and followers will consider making a donation to help defray production costs and provide us with the necessary funds to operate in 2021.” A minimum donation of 20 GBP (30 USD) is suggested but viewers may donate as much as they wish. The concert website will include a PayPal link where donations can be made and gratefully accepted at any time.
“The Pipes of Christmas has, over two decades, become a treasured part of our holiday season and despite the Covid-19 pandemic, I am delighted to see the innovative programme planned for 2020,” said Joni Smith, Counsellor for the Scottish Government USA and a former Honorary Chairman for the concert. “I applaud all the hard work that has gone into its production and wish it every success.”
The Reverend Canon Dr. Joseph J. Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms added, “The joy this concert is marking at the season of Advent will be something of a glimpse of God’s Glory as well an anticipation of the coming of the surprise of God in bringing heaven to earth on Christmas day. I applaud and celebrate all the hard work by the many individuals in making this event happen and I wish it every success.”
Notes to the editor
About the Pipes of Christmas
The first Pipes of Christmas concert was held in 1999 and since that date the event has grown considerably with a larger company and extended performance runs. The producers have frequently commissioned new music for bagpipe, clarsach and other instruments. Traditionally, part of the programme is conducted in Scots Gaelic. Money raised from the concerts has helped fund the Learned Kindred’s outreach and charitable programme.
About the Learned Kindred of Currie
The Curries/Currys, originally known as MacMhuirich were for centuries hereditary bards to the MacDonald Lords of the Isles and the Clan MacDonald of Clanranald.
Professor Hugh Cheape of the National Centre for Gaelic Language on the Isle of Skye said of the MacMhuirichs, “This kindred as ‘bardic dynasty’ with such a remarkable history ought now to be recognised on the wider stage of Scottish culture as a family with an independent role at the centre of a widely connected and well-ordered culture that characterised Gaelic Scotland.”
For further information contact:
Robert (Bob) Currie (United States) [email protected], (908) 858-6357
Neil Gunn (Scotland) [email protected], 07493 509991
Clan Currie Society Facebook page: facebook.com/ClanCurrieSociety
Concert Facebook page: facebook.com/ThePipesofChristmas
Title Image: Gaelic singer Gillebride MacMillan performs at Glencorse Old Kirk in Milton Bridge. The chapel was made famous as the setting for Jamie and Claire’s wedding in the hit series, “Outlander