A compelling and strikingly original celebration of queer Scottish history told through traditional music and poetry
‘Sometimes in the world of traditional music and ancient languages, queerness can feel like an afterthought’ is what traditional folk singer Josie Duncan thought before historian Ashley Douglas uncovered the work of Marie Maitland, a 16th-century Scottish poet who wrote about love between women at a time when women were barely permitted to write at all.
Having heard of ‘Scotland’s sixteenth-century Sappho’ from her good friend and historian Ashley Douglas, Josie Duncan, a folk singer, songwriter and composer working in both English and Scottish Gaelic, was inspired to create her commission piece: A’Chiad Litir/The First Letter for this year’s Edinburgh Trad Fest. As this year’s special commission artist, performing at Traverse Theatre, she proves a compelling and well-judged choice.
Featuring poetry readings of Maitland’s work alongside original songs, instrumentals and vocal solos in both Gaelic and English, the performance takes the audience on a journey through the life of a poet who defied the expectations of her time, when women were expected to serve their husbands, sew, and remain silent. Maitland’s work explored themes of same-sex attraction, something extremely rare for that time. Duncan opens with a spoken introduction, as guitar, flute and drums gradually build beneath her, establishing the tone for a hybrid performance of spoken word, dynamic instrumentation and folk singing.
A member of the LGBTQA+ community herself, Duncan’s connection to Maitland feels deeply personal. As a queer woman from the Isle of Lewis, her passion for Scotland, traditional music and queer histories – both past and present – runs through the performance, demonstrated by her heartfelt spoken passages. Its themes travel beyond a single identity, offering something meaningful to all audiences – queer, Scottish, female or none at all.
Set against projections of enchanting nature imagery, the hour-long performance, delivered by Duncan and her four-piece all-female band, is as melodious as it is visually mesmerising. Switching between soft a cappella solos, intricate harp breaks, faster-paced jigs and deep, resonant melodies, the music infuses the small room with intensity and warmth.
One of the evening’s standout moments centres on Maitland’s Poem 49, considered among the earliest known examples of lesbian verse in Europe since Sappho. Delivered by Douglas herself in Gaelic before gradually unfolding into a powerful musical sequence, the piece leaves the audience visibly absorbed.
At one point, Josie reflects, ‘’I wonder what Marie would think of Scotland today.’’ Based on this performance, it’s easy to imagine she would rest smiling – her voice not only recovered, but honoured through a tribute of such care, artistry, and emotional depth.
A’ Chiad Litir / The First Letter is a tribute to not only Maitland herself – her identity and defiant poetry – but also to the roots of Scottish traditional music and the Gaelic language. While occasionally unrefined, with some transitions between pieces lacking fluidity, this entirely unique concept is a thoughtful and rewarding piece of work that Josie had clearly spent much time curating.
Judging by the standing ovation at the Traverse Theatre, it seems that Josie has created something deeply personal and culturally significant: a celebration of queer Scottish history told through the distinctive language of traditional music.