Creative Scotland Crowdmatch has provided £1,150 of match funding
Hildina: Shetland's Oldest Song, Pressed to Vinyl
Shetland, United Kingdom
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Aim
Shetland's oldest song, pressed to vinyl for the first time. 100 numbered copies, spectacular art by Meilo So, deluxe lyric booklet
The Hildina Ballad
For 250 years, the Hildina Ballad was a curio - a linguistic puzzle, an academic study into the Norn language of Shetland - and possibly one of the oldest Shetland songs written down since the Sagas. However, on 5th November 2025, 29 singers brought it back to life in a historic recording session at Mareel, Lerwick.
Shetland musician Barry Nisbet (that's me!) had spent 12 months researching, rebuilding, and preparing the ballad in a singable (and danceable) form.
The living Faroese tradition, Old Norse and its development into Shetland Norn, and several academic studies over 150 years all fed into this project; and at the end I produced a Norn version that is faithful to the original words that were quoted/sung by William Henry of Guttorm on that day in 1774.
The Shaetlan version, carefully translated directly from the Norn, sits beside it equally singable.
The recording was carried out by Ken Blair - an expert in location recording working with artists such as Sting, Rush; has worked with the legendary George Martin; and has recorded in locations including Notre Dame and the Vatican.
The Vision
I'm planning to produce a premium limited-edition vinyl version of the recordings. The Shaetlan version of the ballad will form one side of the record; the Norn version the other. Meilo So has designed a spectacular and unique piece of cover art that captures the mood and drama of the ballad.
The funds raised from this matched crowdfunder will be used to produce 100 top-quality 45rpm vinyl records, with luxurious gatefold sleeve featuring Meilo So's spectacular cover art. This includes costs incurred in professionally mastering the tracks for vinyl; engaging a top lacquer-cutting engineer; design and typesetting of a high-quality booklet and cover art; and a fee for the artist and recording engineer.
About me
A full-time musician from Cullivoe, Shetland, I have performed with a range of line-ups, encompassing everything from traditional music (The Cullivoe Fiddlers) to punk-bluegrass (Wire and Wool). Increasingly, my work is drawing me towards song and language and I now research, write, perform and record in Shaetlan, English and Norn.
Back this project today to own one of only 100 numbered copies of Shetland's oldest song - See the rewards below
Funding method
All or nothing – this project will only receive pledges if it reaches its target of £5,573 by 9th November 2026 at 5:00pm