|
This is the story of how Trevor Morrison, in an Edinburgh Care Home, recorded melodies remembered since his childhood which became a best selling album 'The Lost Songs of St Kilda'.
Then serendipity played a part in the story, resulting in sheet music becoming available which you can purchase from this website. 
|
Moose in the Hoose
My involvement in the ‘Lost Songs’ began in 2005 when, after many years working in computers, I volunteered with ACE IT in Edinburgh to help residents of old people’s homes use the Internet to improve their wellbeing and independence. The ‘Moose in the Hoose’ project still runs today.
|
The logo used for the Moose in the Hoose project
|
Can These Things Record Music?
Trevor and I at ‘Moose in the Hoose’, Silverlea in 2012
photo Dr Val Bissland
I met Trevor Morrison in Silverlea Care Home. Trevor was a real man of mystery, he had an enquiring mind so that every week he’d ask to Google some obscure subject, often to do with religion. I’d find an interesting article and print it out. Trevor would take it away and study it and the following week he would have another topic to investigate.
It was at one of those sessions in September 2006 Trevor asked ‘Can these things record music?’, ‘There are some melodies I’d like to get down.'
It was at one of those sessions in September 2006 Trevor asked ‘Can these things record music?’, ‘There are some melodies I’d like to get down.'
In those days it wasn’t so simple, but having downloaded some software and spent £3 on a microphone I turned up the following week. We got organised, microphone down the back of the piano, Trevor all ready, I clicked record and off we went. Then, I’d no idea what Trevor was playing, just that they were some of the most haunting melodies I’d ever heard.
Kingarth, Bute
The Schoolhouse in Kingarth, now derelict
Trevor explained how he’d been evacuated during the war from Glasgow to Kingarth in Bute. He attended the school there where his mother became the headmistress. His music teacher sat Trevor on his knee and placed hands on hands whilst he taught Trevor the music.
The music teacher, Trevor told me, was an evacuee from the islands of St Kilda, St Kilda is a small group of islands off the West coast of Scotland 40 miles to the west of the Outer Hebrides.
The music teacher, Trevor told me, was an evacuee from the islands of St Kilda, St Kilda is a small group of islands off the West coast of Scotland 40 miles to the west of the Outer Hebrides.
St Kilda
|
The remote islands were inhabited for hundreds of years until 1930 when the islanders realised their numbers were dwindling and crops were failing. The final population of just 36 people requested to be evacuated back to mainland Scotland.
The music had apparently originated there and Trevor had remembered it for the past sixty years. |
Main Street on Hirta, 2018
|
Are they authentic? I’ve no idea. Since then musicologists specialising in Hebridean music have confirmed the music has the lilt and modes of Gaelic song. Fiona Mackenzie , an archivist on Canna, hears elements in the music that connects with other recorded fragments of St Kildan song gathered during the 20th century, some from St Kildans and also from people from the Outer Hebrides.
So, what of Trevor? He was born in Camlachie in Glasgow in 1939. He taught English at Gordonstoun public school back in the 1960s when Prince Charles was there. Sometime later he was teaching in Saudi, Iran, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Trevor did mention to me his brushes with Idi Amin. Amin locked him up whilst he was a university lecturer in Kampala.
He mentioned he’d lived in Glasgow in Barlanark and Easterhouse and also worked for the ‘Glasgow Citizen’ and the ‘East Kilbride News’ newspapers.
Sadly, Trevor contracted pneumonia in 2012 and died on 12th December aged just 73.
So, what of Trevor? He was born in Camlachie in Glasgow in 1939. He taught English at Gordonstoun public school back in the 1960s when Prince Charles was there. Sometime later he was teaching in Saudi, Iran, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Trevor did mention to me his brushes with Idi Amin. Amin locked him up whilst he was a university lecturer in Kampala.
He mentioned he’d lived in Glasgow in Barlanark and Easterhouse and also worked for the ‘Glasgow Citizen’ and the ‘East Kilbride News’ newspapers.
Sadly, Trevor contracted pneumonia in 2012 and died on 12th December aged just 73.
The Lost Songs of St Kilda
Sunrise from Hirta looking to Boreray and Stac Lee, 2018
The album and reorchestrations only came about by a wonderful twist of fate when Fiona Pope, who met Trevor after the melodies were recorded, landed a job with Decca records in their A and R department at the beginning of 2016.
Decca then commissioned several established composers to re-orchestrate Trevor’s tunes to accompany the original recordings.
Decca then commissioned several established composers to re-orchestrate Trevor’s tunes to accompany the original recordings.
The album exceeded expectations; it went straight to the top of the classical album chart. It became the Classic FM album of the year and is now the fastest selling posthumous debut album EVER.
I certainly miss Trevor but discovered he’s still capable of surprises. In researching his life for ‘Lost Songs’ talks I’m asked to do, I discovered he had lived in Camden, London where he was picked up ‘in a flashy limousine’ from his flat and driven to Clarence House to play for Her Majesty: The Queen Mother.
Rest in Peace Trevor.
Stuart McKenzie
November 2020
I certainly miss Trevor but discovered he’s still capable of surprises. In researching his life for ‘Lost Songs’ talks I’m asked to do, I discovered he had lived in Camden, London where he was picked up ‘in a flashy limousine’ from his flat and driven to Clarence House to play for Her Majesty: The Queen Mother.
Rest in Peace Trevor.
Stuart McKenzie
November 2020
Now in 2023 the music was featured in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, as part of the celebratory concert at the Edinburgh Service of Thanksgiving for King Charles. The music included the re orchestration by Rebecca Dale of 'Soay'. Played by Nicola Benedetti on violin with the Honours of Scotland Ensemble. Watch the performance here.
One YouTube comment summed it up perfectly:
'I was outside the ceremony, in the crowd, and when this was playing over the speaker outside, every one fell silent, it was magical, I had a tear in my eye'.
One YouTube comment summed it up perfectly:
'I was outside the ceremony, in the crowd, and when this was playing over the speaker outside, every one fell silent, it was magical, I had a tear in my eye'.