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THE CREMATION OF SAM MCGEE
A work by Canadian Cellist, Christine Hanson

A brilliantly atmospheric travelogue in music, words and pictures, Christine Hanson’s Sam McGee presentation celebrates both the Scottish birthplace of Yukon poet Robert W. Service and his greatest creation, the irascible, ill-fated and fascinating Sam McGee.

Exploring the Scottish tradition, the members of the Sam McGee ensemble - featuring some of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians drawn from top bands including Blazin’ Fiddles, Shooglenifty and Session A9 – begin by showcasing their individual and collective talents before the first half closes with the unique, gravel-voiced Michael Marra fronting the full, eight-strong band.

Hanson’s musical adaptation of Service’s The Cremation of Sam McGee switches locations to the frozen Yukon frontier where the cellist’s original compositions take the audience across the snow in tandem with this quirky, tragicomic tale.

Narrated with conspicuous relish by Michael Marra and with the celebrated Canadian artist Ted Harrison’s beautiful Arctic icescapes projected as a backdrop, The Cremation of Sam McGee is a chilling, enthralling and entertaining work whose music opens a window on deeper themes of friendship, promises made and eventual rebirth.

Edmonton, Alberta-born Hanson has extensive experience in traditional music, theatre and television, and as well as touring in North America and all over Europe, she has toured the High Arctic as part of a Canadian government program to bring music to remote communities. Presented with CBC’s Galaxie Award for Best New Artist at Canada’s Juno Fest 2004, she has worked with Martin Carthy, Eddi Reader, Justin Currie, and Karen Matheson of Capercaillie. She was the first non-Scot to receive a New Voices commission from Glasgow’s prestigious Celtic Connections festival, resulting in The Cremation of Sam McGee’s premiere in January 2005.