Monday 5 May, 8.15pm, Traverse Theatre
Musicians Donald Hay and Mary Macmaster are pictured in front of the remains of the 29m high Himalayan Cedar at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Their new song The Cedar Silent is a tribute to the cedar and will premiere as part of For the Love of Trees, at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 5 May, 8.15pm.
This year’s festival commission For the Love of Trees celebrates the songs and tunes associated with our nation’s woodlands and trees and includes the premiere of The Cedar, Silent which was written as a tribute to the 29m high Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh that came down in Storm Éowyn earlier this year.
Specially commissioned by Soundhouse who programme Edinburgh Tradfest, For the Love of Trees is produced and performed by harpist Mary Macmaster and drummer Donald Hay, who are joined by an incredible line-up of talented musicians: Amy MacDougall (vocals, sampling), Mairearad Green (accordion, pipes, vocals), Pete Harvey (cello) and Ciaran Ryan (banjo/fiddle/guitar).
Mary Macmaster is an award-winning harpist, singer, and ambassador for Scottish music who has previously collaborated with the likes of Sting, Northumbrian pipe virtuoso Kathryn Tickell, English folk legend Norma Waterson and many more.
Mary is a founder member of The Poozies (still going strong after 35 years), Macmaster/Hay with Donald Hay, Shine with Alyth McCormack and Corinna Hewat, and Sìleas with Patsy Seddon. In 2013, she and Seddon were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
For this commission Mary has chosen a variety of tunes related to trees, plus there are four new compositions written specially for the concert including The Cedar, Silent. The tunes include everything from a traditional Irish reel The Island of Woods by the wonderful Irish/American fiddler Liz Carroll; to Scottish lament Cumha Crann Nan Teud The Lament for the Harp Key; The Trees by rock band Pulp; and Chraobh nan Ubhall a traditional Gaelic waulking song.
Speaking about the commission musician Mary Macmaster said: “I chose trees for this commission because I love trees – everyone loves trees don’t they? Also, one of my favourite ever books is The Overstory, by Richard Powers. It’s a massive, magnificent story. It really inspired and
affected me. Trees are in the earth and in the air. They are older and more still than humans could ever be and yet we treat them like commodities.
If only we could hear what they are saying to each other – and they do communicate, through their roots and along the lines of mycelium that connect them.They will be here when we have gone, no matter what a mess we make of our beautiful world.”
Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producer of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “Mary Macmaster is one of Scotland’s finest musicians and composers so we were absolutely thrilled that she agreed to take on this year’s festival commission.
“She has picked a stellar line-up to join her on 5 May so we’re sure it will be a concert to remember. The subject matter is very close to our hearts and that set list includes tunes from across the centuries is surely fitting.
After all, many the trees we look at today have been here long before us and will survive long after we are gone.”
For the Love of Trees is on Monday 5 May starts 8.15pm at the Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh EH1 2ED. £16/£13 with special guest Fiona Soe Paing whose new album SAND, SALT FLINT is inspired by the ballads of and locations around the northeast of Scotland.
Her performance will include visuals from Isla Goldie.
About Mary Macmaster
Best known for her pioneering work with the metal-strung clarsach and the fantastic Camac electro-harp, Mary Macmaster is also a fine singer of Gaelic and English language songs. During the last twenty years she has been at the forefront of the revival of the Scottish harp and has been an ambassador for Scottish music, touring throughout the world with Sìleas, The Poozies and Donald Hay, a brilliant percussionist.
Mary has collaborated live and in the studio with many wonderful musicians including the Northumbrian pipe virtuoso Kathryn Tickell, English folk legend Norma Waterson and the amazing Sting. Mary’s influence on and contribution to the Scottish music scene and her role in the clarsach revival
in recent decades has been recognised by the Scottish Music Hall of Fame (Hands Up for Trad / Saltire Society), into which she was inducted in 2013. Edinburgh Tradfest 2025 runs until Monday 12 May.
The full programme includes a stellar line-up of traditional music, talks, adult and children’s music workshops, ceilidhs, films, and storytelling thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and the William Grant Foundation.