Gaelic Psalm Singing and American Music COnference

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 This conference featured Prof. Willie Ruff, ethnomusicologist and theory professor, Yale Un. Department of Music; Dr. Douglas F. Kelly, theology professor at The Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, N.C.; Dr. Hugh Foley, professor of music and ethnomusicology at Rogers State University in Tulsa, OK; Calum Martin, native Gaelic speaker and precentor for Gaelic Psalms as sung by congregations on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland; and Duane Foster, St. Louis choral specialist/educator who will lead line singing.

This one-time event began at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church with Prof. Ruff’s documentary on this subject.  Ruff originated the research in the USA on the connections between Gaelic Psalm singing and American forms of congregational worship practiced still today in African American, Appalachian and Muskogee Creek churches.

Prof. Ruff, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Foley and Mr. Foster presented the historic background both in Scotland and the USA and showed how Scottish descendants as well as African American and Muskogee Creek congregations continued and transformed this tradition.  Participants worked with Calum Martin to learn a sampling of psalms in Gaelic (which involve each person improvising on the original hymn tune from the Scottish Psalter) and with Duane Foster on line singing.   The conference closed with a service at St. Margaret of Scotland Church at which everyone participated in the singing of the Gaelic Psalms and the line singing.  Following the service, we had a Ceilidh (music party) at which any participants who sing or play were invited to share their specialty – all genres were welcome.