Yatra: meaning journey has been inspired by the journey of Colin Mackenzie from the Isle of Lewis to India.
Yatra will be a new and specially commissioned score, which will depict Mackenzie’s journey through traditional Gaelic vocal traditions using islanders’ songs of travel and seafaring, through to the traditional Indian Raag and folk music that Mackenzie would have experienced and encountered during his travels and explorations in India. Yatra will be a performance piece, which will complement and form part of the overall Purvai programme accompanying the ‘Collector Extraordinaire’ exhibition, and bringing to life the journey of Mackenzie and the imagery of his collection.
It is intended that this piece should tell Mackenzie’s story through compositions specially composed and performed by contributing artists, artists from both the Gaelic and Indian musical traditions. What is poignant about Colin Mackenzie’s journey is his love for India, its art and its people; a county which he came to consider his home, whilst never forgetting his Hebridean origins. This piece of music will be the embodiment of his Yatra.
The work will also tell a wider story of this history and heritage between India and the UK and what that connection has come to mean and embody today. A historical story made alive and present through artists working today, representing these traditions in a progressive and innovative way. The show is envisaged to be set to a backdrop of moving imagery charting this journey, beginning in Stornoway and then moving on into India while also using imagery and drawings from the Mackenzie Collection, including some of his own very first drawings of India on his arrival.
Participating artists will include: Dalbir Singh Rattan as lead composer, Aziz Ibrahim, Kaviraj Singh Dhadylla, Seetal Kaur Dhadyalla, Anna Murray, Ceitlin Smith. With contributions from Calum Martin and Mary Smith. Design will be provided by John Macdonald.