When folk music is mentioned in conversation, images of rolling hills, heather covered moors and pale skinned damsels are amongst those that spring to mind. Elsa Jean McTaggart evokes not only these pictures but also with her array of instruments and original songs gives a taste of how eclectic folk can sound.
McTaggart started the audience’s journey through folk with the fiddle. Her songs ranged from jaunty jigs that had even the most conservative of the audience tapping their toes to delicate, wistful ballads that bring the bleakness of the highlands to an Edinburgh basement. All this is done with effortless fingering and a smooth bow-work that belies the difficulty of the pieces.
She continued with another classic folk instrument: the penny whistle. These pieces ebbed and flowed with uncommon silkiness, the result of an excellent embrasure, but also had flashes of staccato more akin to tribal flute. The next instrument in her repertoire was the guitar. Songs varied from the bluesy ‘Black Box’ to the warm Spanish vibes of ‘Where the Bamboo Grows’. The final instrument on display was her own voice. Well-controlled dynamics and beautiful pitching left the audience in no doubt that Mctaggart’s skills stretched beyond the instrumental.
Interspersing the music were breaks in which McTaggart shared stories about what influenced her music, enabling the audience to gain access into her thoughts. This not only enhanced the listening by providing context and meaning to the music but also helped keep the mood light and cheery.
The songs, performance and skill of McTaggart led to a show which moved and excited the audience in a way that only someone who truly loves what they do can. Her energy and passion led to everyone walking out with a smile on their face even as the heavens opened around them.
