Ruth Keggin - LOSSAN (2022) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

Lossan is a Manx word (the Celtic language spoken on the Isle of Man) that can mean light, glimmer, sheen and flame. It’s also a well-chosen title for the collaborative album between Manx Gaelic singer Ruth Keggin and Scottish Harpist Rachel Hair, for this duo’s debut offering has all those qualities in vibrant abundance.

Manx is one of the three Goidelic languages alongside Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Manx was officially declared ‘extinct’ by UNESCO in 2009; despite there being hundreds of speakers on the Isle of Man…that status has now been changed to “critically endangered”.

Regular readers of these pages will be familiar with both Ruth and Rachel. Ruth has been something of a leading light on the Manx music scene, having released her solo debut Sheear in 2014; she returned in 2016 with Turrys (reviewed here). In the same year, Ruth teamed up with Mary Ann Kennedy and acclaimed sean-nòs singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin for their Aon Teanga:Un Çhengey (One Tongue) project.

Like Ruth, Rachel, one of Scotland’s finest Harpists and a leading expert on Manx Harp music, is no stranger to collaboration. On her 2015 album, Tri, her connection to the Isle of Man shone through on the likes of Jigs For Mann and later compositions for Sparks with Ron Jappy (reviewed here). In an interview with Folk Radio, Rachel revealed how she met her partner/now-husband, Adam Rhodes (also a member of Barrule), at a festival in Wales, “…and so started my interest in the island”.

TRACKLIST

1. Ruth Keggin - Arraneyn Cadlee
2. Ruth Keggin - Mish as y Keayn
3. Ruth Keggin - Tri Nation Harp Jigs
4. Ruth Keggin - Arrane Saveenagh
5. Ruth Keggin - Keayrt Hug Mee Graih
6. Ruth Keggin - Graih Foalsey
7. Ruth Keggin - Ny Kirree Fo Niaghtey
8. Ruth Keggin - Eubonia Soilshagh
9. Ruth Keggin - Yn Scollag Aeg
10. Ruth Keggin - Vuddee Veg
11. Ruth Keggin - Arrane Oie Vie



Thanks to the Original customer.