The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-04-06
SCOTCH SINGERS
GAELIC MISSION

81 am a pioneer in exploiting Scotch
and Gaelic music before the world"
So said Miss Jessie Maclachlan, the
Scottish prima donna, last evening
waiian Hotel 1t was not a bold as
sertion. but came in the midst of
delightful talk on Scotland and her
own hopes and ambitions, but the
Scotch accent which ran through her
conversation. Miss Maclachlan is
really beautiful woman with wealth
of deepest black hair, beneath which
are a pair of snappy black eyes, the
traditional black eyes so often told of
in Scottish verse. And she is TWEEN
tieth century Gael if there ever was
one.
ION, began singing when I was but
fifteen" she said, when asked about
her musical career. You know I am
Highlander" and her eyes blazed
with unmistakable pride.
AS to Gaelic, that is our tongue in
the Highlands, and that is the Ian
guage I am exploiting to the musical
world. Oh, yes, the songs I sing are
the melodies of the Highlands, not i'm
provisations by outside composers and
set to the Gaelic words. These songs
1 heard when 1 was but a babe. AS
a Scotch woman I take pride in sing
ing them to the world, for when 1 do
the sentiment in them goes straight
out from my heart. Yes, 1 have my
own ways of interpreting songs, but
then 1 know the sentiment in them. It
was born in me ana my ancestors
One can sing the words of a song and
yet not touch the inner depths, but
when one is born to a knowledge of
the Highland and Gaelic tongue then
one can interpret them properly. My
way of singing Comm Thro' the Rye?
Well the inner knowledge is right here
in my breast.
1T is my mission to interest people
in Scotland, and especially its music.
The world will know some time that
the Scottish music is something which
can be listened to with as much pleas
ure as an opera. l know there was a
time when a Scotch song upon a pro-
gram really dulled the audience. But
l am happy to say that every audience
to which I have sung, and I have made
four tours in the United States, has
shown its appreciation of our music.
I have received many offers to sing
under various arrangements, that
would have the selection of my songs,
but I have declined for 1 prefer to
sing the songs of dear old Scotland,
rather than to go outside for other
music.
We have always appeared before
good and appreciative audiences.
also take pride in saying that I have
never been late to a concert, although
1 have been in railway accidents, have
been snow bound, and have expert
enced all manner of difficulties in
travelling. And then the number of
times 1 have sung. Night after night
it has been, with several hundred con-
certs all told but like to sing, for
when I do it takes me back to the
Highlands and that makes me happy
and eager to sing.
LAS to Honolulu think it is heaven
". 1 came here to rest and am getting
it. We are out early in the morning
to get the fresh air and during the
day we take in the lovely sights. It's
my first visit, so you see I have been
greatly impressed. Its pleasurable
break in our work"
Miss Maclachlan did not say work
as We say it. but she said with the
quaintest little accent. war-r-k.
Miss Maclachlan sings again on Sat
urday night at the Opera House.
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