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songs and more importantly no lyrics whatsoever in either Gaelic
or English with the album and no indication that lyrics are available. This
isn't the first time Greentrax have let me down in this way - Canan nan
Gaidheal has no Gaelic lyrics either. By contrast Temple records have
an excellent reputation for printing lyrics and given the choice between
both companies I would feel happier buying a Gaelic recording from Temple
knowing I would be able to get lyrics.
In addition to the albums mentioned above, it is also worthwhile to get
the tape "Music from the Western Isles", by Greentrax records. The
accompanying booklet explains waulking songs as well as other types of
Gaelic song. The tape is not exclusively waulking songs but is a "sampler"
featuring different types of Gaelic music and song.
There is also a good number of waulking songs on the album "A tribute to
the North Shore Gaelic singers", published by B&R Heritage Enterprises,
Iona, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
http://www.capebretonet.com/Music/BRHeritage/
References
----------
The main and best source for information on waulking songs is
Hebridean Folksongs by J L Campbell and F Collinson, first published by
Oxford University Press in the 70s. There are 3 volumes, which you
may be able to find in a library, and volumes 2 and 3 have recently
been republished (at 29.50 each, sterling!). Volume 1 has an excellent
bibliography, with additions in volume 3. The songs are the repertoire of
singers from Barra, Uist and the small islands in that area.
The School of Scottish Studies' published series, Scottish Tradition,
includes Waulking Songs from Barra, and the booklet that goes with it
is informative. This is available as cassette or CD from Greentrax
Recordings. Music from the Western Isles, in the same series, also has
some waulking songs and some notes on the genre. Orain Luaidh,
published by the Harris Tweed Association, has an accompanying booklet
with texts and translations into English. Orain, by Christina Shaw,
published by Acair, has four waulking songs. C.S. was from Harris.
The South Harris group are quite good, but there is at least one bad
error in the way the words come within the rhythm.
The School of Scottish Studies' magazine Tocher contains texts of
waulking songs, with their tunes, particularly Tocher 50. Tocher is
published by:
The School of Scottish Studies, 27 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD
http://www.pearl.arts.ed.ac.uk/SoSS/ mailto:Scottish.Studies@ed.ac.uk
More information
----------------
For more information on waulking, see the Harris Tweed website at
http://www.harristweed.com/
or The Smithsonian's article on Harris Tweed
http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues98/sep98/tweed.html
for more info and further links
Book information
----------------
Get more information on the books listed here
via our books page in association with Amazon.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/books/amazon.html#[8.1]
[8.3] Puirt a beul
See the following for an introduction:
http://www.siliconglen.com/culture/puirtabeul.html
[8.4] Gaelic psalm singing
Greentrax sells tapes from the School of Scottish studies and one of
these is Gaelic psalm singing from Lewis. The album reference is
CDTRAX/CTRAX 9006. mailto:greentrax@aol.com
http://www.greentrax.com/
Some info from the liner notes, by Morag MacLeod
"Lowland Scots took well to ballad metre, which was familiar to them in
folksong, & 'reading the line' ("precenting" in Scottish tradition,
"lining-out" in American Southern tradition) became so much a part
of the church's praise that it came to be regarded as a venerable
Scottish custom. Later church music reformers campaigned to abolish it,
and it gradually became extinct, except in Gaelic-speaking areas.
When the psalms were translated into Gaelic the metre used was again
ballad metre, so that the same Lowland tunes could be used. This metre was
and is entirely alien to Gaelic literature and any other Gaelic poetry
composed in it is parody. The way in which 'reading the line' broke up
the quatrain into eight lines of differing length may have been a welcome
alleviation of ballad metre for the Gaelic singer.
The person who read the line became known as the precentor. Nowadays it
is the precentor's duty not only to let the congregation hear clearly the
text it is to sing next, but also to give a hint of the melody line by
pinpointing its more important tunes. The repertoire varies from seventeen
to twenty tunes, which are basically the same as those that appear under
the same name in the Church Hymnary or the Scottish Psalter. Melodic
modifications do occur in some of the tunes in the process of adaptation
to Gaelic modal patterns, but these are not to be taken as the only cause
of the unaccustomed listener's confusion as he tries to link the printed
tune with the Gaelic version. There is no clear break between the precentor's
chant and the beginning or end of the original musical text; the singing is
very slow, possibly to convey the solemnity of the occasion even if the psalm
is a joyful one; and passing notes and grace notes are introduced to
decorate the basic melody - but not to the extent of obscuring it, and the
precentor's voice should keep the congregation together on the basic notes,
which coincide with the beginnings of syllables."
[8.5] Piobaireachd, Pibroch and Piping
Recordings
----------
There are some excellent recordings available from Greentrax in the
Scottish Tradition series.
Relevant album numbers are CTRAX 9010, 9011, 9012 and 9015
mailto:greentrax@aol.com
http://www.greentrax.com/
Margaret Stewart (Mod gold medallist) has released a recording along
with the famous piper, Allan MacDonald of Glenuig, on the Greentrax label.
It features quite a few choice pieces of Ceol Mor. They both study and
research ceol mor and its related Gaelic song and their album concentrates
on this, in fact Allan has undertaken an academic study of ceol mor at
Edinburgh University, resulting in an MLitt degree. The album has received
rave reviews in all the piping magazines and folk music magazines and is
selling extremely well all over the world.
You can order the CD direct from Greentrax on mailto:greentrax@aol.com
Also look for an album entitled "Strictly Piobaireachd"- I think Lismore
produced it. Any of the "Masters of Piping" series (also Lismore) would have
at least one piece of Ceol Mor, usually more than one. Lismore are at
http://www.lismor.co.uk/
Books
-----
Roderick Cannon, the Highland Bagpipe and its Music is a good
source for the facts of bagpipe history. Also, Seumas MacNeill and
Frank Richardson "Piobaireachd and its Interpretation for Ceo\l Mo/r"
Piping Info
-----------
http://www.cna-web.co.uk/MacCrimmon/
The MacCrimmon Piping Heritage Centre
The Piping Centre,
30-34 McPhater Street,
Cowcaddens,
Glasgow
G4 0HW
phone/fax 0141 353 0220
College of Piping (publishes 'The Piping Times')
20 Otago Street, Glasgow
0141 334 3587
See also Bagpipe web
http://www.bobdunsire.com/bagpipeweb/
and
Piobaireachd net
http://www.pibroch.net/
Newsgroup
---------
The newsgroup news:rec.music.makers.bagpipe is where most of the
pipers on the internet seem to be.
Book information
----------------
Get more information on the books listed here
via our books page in association with Amazon.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/books/amazon.html#[8.5]
[8.6] Oldest datable Gaelic Song
The oldest datable Gaelic song is Piobaireachd Dhomhnuill Dhuibh
according to John MacInnes, School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh University
The music to Piobaireachd Dhomhnuill Dhuibh is in the Purser book mentioned
in [4.21] and a recorded version is on the Clan Alba Album.
This tune is thought to be named for Donald Dubh, 11th chief of the Clan
Cameron, who led the clan from 1400 to 1460. There is some evidence that
the tune evolved from Ceol Mor: a fiddle version was published by James
Oswald in 1760. Sir Walter Scott also put lyrics to it in 1816.
The Queen's Own Highlanders often use it as a March Past.
I'm not sure what "datable" means here. Francis Collison in the
"Traditional and National music of Scotland", mentions 'Ceann na
Drochaid Mhoridh' (The end of the great bridge) as being
traditionally held as being composed at the battle of Inverlochy
in 1427. Of the claim of Donald Dubh to be contemporary with it, he
calls "impossible to say".
Book information
----------------
Get more information on the books listed here
via our books page in association with Amazon.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/books/amazon.html#[8.6]
[8.7] Information on Runrig
Websites
--------
http://www.runrig.co.uk/
Fan club
--------
Runrig Fan Club, 1 York St, Aberdeen AB11 5DL Scotland
Tel: 01224 573100 Fax 01224 572598
Runrig as a name for the band is a term Blair Douglas thought up
when he was studying in Glasgow. A rig is a strip of farmland and
a run is a series of those strips. The run-rig system of farming
is no longer used, but the marks of it can still be seen particularly
on Skye where the core of the band is from. The term run-rig is a Scots
word. The Gaelic is "raon ruith"
Discography
-----------
Play Gaelic (good, very folky, last 2 tracks are very good, limited
lyrics in Gaelic available from fan club)
Highland Connection (v good, my favourite, mix of ballads and heavy rock,
lyrics supplied, but no translations. I have translations of Cearcall a'
chuain - one of my all time favourite tracks and an easy one to sing along
to and learn).
Recovery (v. good, close second, similar to Highland Connection.
Translations for Gaelic available from this point on). The last one with
Malcolm Jones playing the pipes.
Heartland (v. good, slightly more commercial than previous two, less Gaelic)
Cutter and the Clan (OK. considerably more commercial than Heartland.
2 Gaelic tracks. An uabhal as airde is a very good song from this album)
Once in a lifetime (live album featuring material from previous 4, but only
1 track from Play Gaelic- Chi mi'n Geamhradh)
Searchlight (OK. More commercial than "Cutter", 2 Gaelic tracks)
Big Wheel (improvement on Searchlight. Commercial, but some good tracks, 2
Gaelic tracks)
Amazing things (rather bland and middle of the road. Some good tracks, but
many forgettable)
Mara (a theme album; excellent production masks some rather middle of the
road tunes)
The band seem to be struggling to make their albums more and more
commercial in sound and the Gaelic content of each is nearly always
lower or the same as the last. However, they don't seem to be having
much success outside Scotland. They are the biggest selling band in
Scotland, and I think Donnie Munro is a very good singer. It's ironic
that Capercaillie have managed about the same success with singles as
Runrig yet Capercaillie's single was in Gaelic and a lot more
traditional. Runrig are perceived as too Scottish by many non-Scottish
audiences and their following is very heavily biased towards people
from Scotland or with Scottish connections.
You might wonder why this should be so. You would never hear it offered
as a criticism of Bob Marley that he was "too Jamaican", of Bruce
Springsteen that he is "too American", or of Madness that they were
"too English". With regard to Gaelic, it is a problem peculiar to
English speakers that they are often reluctant to appreciate music in
languages other than their own.
Runrig have played a major part in bringing Scottish music up to date
and reviving the Scottish folk scene, and interest in the Gaelic language.
However, I wish they'd accept that they're not going to have a major
breakthrough in popularity overseas and go back to the feel of their
earlier material. This early material, particularly pre-"Cutter" gets a
better response at concerts in Scotland.
The fan club has all the albums and can be reached at the address above.
Many of the band currently live in the Edinburgh area though Calum and
Donnie both have homes in the Highlands. Malcolm Jones is seen frequently
at folk events in Edinburgh and also plays with Freeland Barbour in "The
Occasionals" ceilidh band. Donnie has bought a house in Portree and was
the Labour parliamentary candidate for the Ross, Skye and Inverness West
constituency in the 1997 General Election. Calum MacDonald lives in Mid Ross.
Donnie Munro announced in May 1997, after failing to win the Ross, Skye
and Inverness West seat in the UK General Election, that he wished to follow
a career in politics. His last concert with the band was in August 97 at
Stirling Castle. The band received about 200 tapes from people seeking
to be the new lead singer and auditioned a number of people, however they
took out an advert in The West Highland Free Press, 27-Feb-98 advertising for
others to come forward. The band was particularly keen to get someone with
strong Highland connections and there was talk that the band are wanting to
increase the Gaelic content. Donnie's replacement was announced on 18-Jul-98
and is the Nova Scotian singer Bruce Guthro.
There is also an excellent instrumental album called "An ubhal as airde"
played on whistles and synthesisers - this album contains material which
Runrig have either written or recorded. More info on this follows:
The Highest Apple - An ubhal as airde
-------------------------------------
An intrumental album played by Steve Gwyn Davies (recorders and whistle)
with Sabine Barnes-Rauch (orchestral synthesiser). All songs on this
album have previously been written by or recorded by Runrig.
on Vital Records, 1 Waterloo, Breakish, Isle of Skye, IV42 8QE Scotland
released 1994, available on CD - VITAL CD02 (interesting to find out
what else is in their catalogue!)
it's about 40 mins long and contains 17 tracks (between 35 seconds and
4 mins).
also available from Canan at mailto:canan@smo.uhi.ac.uk
7.99 pounds for cassette (code CSAUAA) or 11.99 for CD (code CDAUAA).
Some bilingual lyrics included.
May also appeal to fans of Enya. This album contains "Clachan Uaine"
which is the only song I know of that Runrig have written but not
recorded themselves (Mairi MacInnes recorded it on Causeway; she
sings on Runrig's Heartland album).
Music information
----------------
Get more information on the music listed here
via our music page in association with Amazon.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/music/amazon.html#[8.7]
[8.8] Information on Capercaillie
Capercaillie is pronounced "Cap-ir-cay-lee", not "Cape-r-cay-lee" A
Capercaillie is the largest member of the Grouse family (from the
Gaelic words for Wood Grouse) and is an endangered species.
Website
-------
http://www.capercaillie.co.uk/
Fan club
--------
Capercaillie Fan Club
Chapmanagement
PO Box 1155
Glasgow
G3 7TW
Fanzine
-------
There is also a fanzine called Sidetaulk. Call Mandy Shanks on
Hopeman 01343- 835194 for more info, or write to her at:
21 Thom Street, Hopeman, Elgin, Moray, Scotland IV30 2SS
(I think Charlie McKerron comes from Hopeman)
E-mail
------
There is a Capercaillie e-mail list. Send a mail to
mailto:secretmusic@sol.co.uk
to sign up (it's managed by hand, so there may be a delay)
Discography
===========
Album #1: Cascade (recorded 1984)
Lineup: Karen Matheson (lead vocal)
Joan MacLachlan (fiddle, vocal)
Marc Duff (Recorder, Whistles, Rauschpfeife)
Shaun Craig (Guitar, Bouzouki)
Martin Macleod (Basses, Fiddle)
Donald Shaw (Accordion, Keyboards, Fiddle)
Published by Taynuilt Records, Highfield, Taynuilt, Argyll, PA35 1JQ
This is the village which the band hail from and it's possible the
record company has some of Karen's earlier recordings when she was
with The Etives. The band met at Oban High School.
This is a really good album, but has no lyrics with it and is only on
cassette.
Album #2: Crosswinds (1987):
No lyrics with this, many copies of the lyrics are available in books
though. Excellent album. Available on Green Linnet. The band
undergoes a line up change - Charlie McKerron joins on
fiddle, replacing Joan MacLachlan.
Album #3: The Blood is strong (1988)
Soundtrack for TV series. Very good tunes (most are quite
short though, as is the album). Includes lyrics and translations
Album #4: Sidewaulk (1989)
Similar in sound to Crosswinds. The first album with any English
on it. Full Gaelic and English lyrics supplied. Excellent album,
available on Green Linnet.
At this point the band leave the Green Linnet label and join Survival
records. The fan club starts in a London suburb and later moves to the
studio in Glasgow where the band do much of their recording. The sound
becomes a bit more contemporary, the Gaelic content goes down slightly
but the sound remains much more traditional than Runrig.
Album #5: Delirium (published 1991)
Coisich a' ru\in (a 400 year old waulking song) from this
album becomes the first ever Scots Gaelic tune to enter the
UK top 40 after it becomes the theme tune for a UK wide TV
programme featuring Prince Charles entitled "A Prince among
islands". Charles appeared on this programme supporting
Gaelic and has since appeared on TV talking in Gaelic.
The "Cape Breton song" on this album which Capercaillie allege
has mutated so much the lyrics are meaningless is a real song
with real lyrics. I am trying to get a copy of these lyrics.
I find it hard to believe that they would select a song (of the
thousands written in Cape Breton) in which no meaning is left to
the words - kind of goes against the very first principle of
Gaelic singing and that is to tell a story! The song is
Oran Nan Te/ine. It was written by Lachlan Currie (Am Bard Ruadh) of
Grand Mira and Boisdale (source: Songs Remembered in Exile, P90).
It had been published in the newpaper The Casket in their Gaelic
column, Achadh Nan Ga\idheil. Date unknown. Song is about about a
forest fire that got out of hand when a Cape Bretoner was clearing
land to sow.
This was in the bio details of Mrs. JR Johnston(nee Margaret MacNeil)
of Beaver Cove. It also mentions that it was also recorded from Mrs.
David Patterson(nee MacNeil) of Benacadie.
Album #6: Get Out - remixes and some new material. Worth getting
for the Poll Tax song.
Album #7: Secret People
Lyrics:
The following pointers to sources may be of interest to those seeking
music and/or lyrics to the Gaelic material on Secret People
An Eala Bhan - Gaelic and English lyrics with sol-fa music available in
"Orain nan Gaidheal", Vol 3, Bruce Campbell.
Published by Gairm, 29 Waterloo St, Glasgow G2 6BZ
ISBN 1 871901 27 8 (Ailein Duinn with lyrics, translation and sol-fa
music is in Vol 1, Maighdeanan na h-airidh is in Vol 2).
Ailein Duinn (lyrics, music and story) is also in Tocher 22 & 41, published
by the School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh University EH8 9LD. There is
also lyrics and the story behind the song at [9.3.12].
Hi ri'm bo - 4 part music and Gaelic lyrics only available in "Coisir a'
Mhoid" Vol 2. Available from the Gaelic Books Council, Address in
answer [7.3]. These are different verses to the ones Capercaillie do,
however.
Tobar Mhoire - Lyrics in Gaelic and English available from Temple
records to accompany Flora MacNeill's album "Craobh nan Ubhal"
Seice Ruraidh, part 1 - no source for this yet
Part 2 - Recorded by na h-oganaich - does anyone know which album and
does it have the lyrics?
Lyrics for "Bonaparte" are in the Frequently Requested Songs section
of this FAQ at [9.3.15]
Album #8: Capercaillie - the "Disco" album. Almost universally despised
by fans of traditional music.
Album #9: To the moon
Album #10: Beautiful Wasteland
the words to Finlay's on Beautiful Wasteland can be found
in the Frequently Requested Songs section of this FAQ under [9.3.7]
'Sileas Puirt a beul'
More info on the Capercaillie website http://www.capercaillie.co.uk/
Some Capercaillie lyrics are in the Frequently Requested Songs section
of this FAQ
Karen Matheson also has a solo album "The Dreaming Sea"
Music information
----------------
Get more information on the music listed here
via our music page in association with Amazon.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/music/amazon.html#[8.8]
Book information
----------------
Get more information on the books listed here
via our books page in association with Amazon.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/books/amazon.html#[8.8]
[9.1] Scottish songs on-line
There are quite a few in The Digital Tradition, a free 6800+ strong
database (many with tunes to play on your computer's speaker). It is
available from the website below, or mailto:digitrad@world.std.com for
more information. There is also a lot of other musical info and folk info
on that ftp site.
http://www.mudcat.org/folksearch.html
The discussion forums at http://www.mudcat.org/ are a particularly good
source of information.
Also, check out the Ceol section of
http://metalab.unc.edu/gaelic/gaelic.html
also try
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1690/lyrics.html
[9.2] Scottish song books
I'm frequently browsing through bookshops to find good songbooks, but
most of the time they're of the tourist top 40 genre with only the most
popular tunes in. These are the sort of tunes you might hear played at
the Edinburgh tattoo, and not the sort you'd here at a folk concert or
down the pub.
I was at Blackfriars Music and got a copy of an excellent book by them
called "The Singing Tradition on Scotland: Book 1, The Birken Tree".
This particularly caught my eye as The Birken Tree was a song which our
singing group performed in a concert in 1994. The book is 3 pounds 50p,
has 56 songs and is 64 pages. All the songs are Scottish, have staff
music supplied, as well as a glossary of Scots words, notes on the
songs and notes for guitarists.
There's the usual tourist songs such as The Lewis Bridal Song (Mairi's
Wedding), Scotland the Brave and The Skye Boat Song, but the majority of
songs are of the type that folk artists would record or which you would
here down the pub. There's about 10 by Robert Burns. Unusually for book
not written for the Gaelic market, there is a Gaelic song "Cumha
Mhic Criomain" = MacCrimmon's Lament.
Blackfriars Music specialise in folk music and bagpipe music and sell
instruments, records and books. The also publish the "Scottish Folk
Arts Directory", the "yellow pages" of the Scottish folk scene detailing
festivals, artists, record labels, societies, radio programmes, folk pubs
etc etc.
Blackfriars Music can be reached at:
Blackfriars Music
49 Blackfriars St
Edinburgh
EH1 1NB
Scotland
Tel: 0131 557 3090
mailto:scotfolk@compuserve.com
(if you are visiting, the shop is open 7 days and is near The Scandic Crown
hotel on the Royal Mile).
"The democratic muse" is definitely also worth a read. This covers the
Scottish folk movement revival since the 50s and covers the major singers
who have influenced the revival, their songs and some history about the
folk song revival and the context of the songs. ISBN 1 898218 10 2
The Feis movement (Feisean nan Gaidheal) has a songbook out and it is
excellent for anyone interested in Gaelic song or musicians interested in
Gaelic tunes. 28 songs; 36 further tunes. Title: Ceol nam Feis.
Music (staff format) and translations available for all the songs which
range from the traditional to the new. The address is in answer [6.4].
ISBN 0 9528687 0 9, price approx 10 pounds.
The Corries Songbook (and their CDs) can be ordered online from
Gavin Browne's home page at
http://www.corries.com/
He is extremely efficient - My book was mailed the same day
I ordered it. This book has full lyrics and staff music and guitar
chords for 62 of the Corries' favourite songs. Gavin's e-mail address is
mailto:Gavin_Browne@compuserve.com
For Gaelic songs, I'd recommend Bruce Campbell's Orain nan Gaidheal,
in 3 three volumes each about 5 pounds. Published by Gairm, Glasgow
and available from the Gaelic Books Council (address in [7.3])
Each contains about 37 well known songs, lyrics in Gaelic and
English and music in sol-fa. No music in staff format.
For children's songs, contact The Singing Kettle:
Kettle Records, The Post House, Kingskettle, Cupar, Fife.
Tel. 01337 31121
http://www.singingkettle.com/
Book information
----------------
Get more information on the books listed here
via our books page in association with Amazon.
http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/books/amazon.html#[9.2]
[9.3] Frequently Requested Songs
See [4.2] for suggestions for a National Anthem.
Contents
~~~~~~~~
[9.3.1] The Flower of Scotland
[9.3.2] Auld Lang Syne
[9.3.3] Amazing Grace
[9.3.4] Oh wee white rose of Scotland
[9.3.5] Loch Lomond
[9.3.6] Runrig - Skye
[9.3.7] Sileas puirt a beul
[9.3.8] Eilean nam Bothan
[9.3.9] William McBride
[9.3.10] Doon in the Wee Room
[9.3.11] An teid thu leam a Mhairi
[9.3.12] Ailein duinn - from Rob Roy
[9.3.13] Theid mi Dhachaidh - from Rob Roy
[9.3.14] Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda
[9.3.15] Bonaparte
[9.3.16] Ca the yowes
[9.3.17] Nighean nan geug
[9.3.18] Sguaban Arbhair
[9.3.19] My Bonnie Moorhen
[9.3.1] The Flower of Scotland
(The Flower of Scotland is the title given in the Corries songbook,
not "Flower of Scotland"). This song was adopted as the official
football anthem by the SFA in 1997. It was already the official
rugby anthem.
Flower of Scotland was composed at 69 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh
The Flower of Scotland
----------------------
1.
O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
2.
The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
3.
Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
Words and music: Roy Williamson. (c) The Corries (Music) Ltd.
Website: http://www.corries.com/
The Flower of Scotland (Gaelic translation)
-------------------------------------------
Here is an authorised Gaelic translation
FLOWER OF SCOTLAND
(translation by John Angus Macleod)
O Fhlu\ir na h-Albann,
cuin a chi\ sinn
an seo\rsa laoich
a sheas gu ba\s 'son
am bileag feo\ir is fraoich,
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaidh
air chaochladh smaoin?
Na cnuic tha lomnochd
's tha duilleach Foghair
mar bhrat air la\r,
am fearann caillte
dan tug na seo\id ud gra\dh,
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaigh
air chaochladh smaoin.
Tha 'n eachdraidh du\inte
ach air di\ochuimhne
chan fheum i bhith,
is faodaidh sinn e\irigh
gu bhith nar Ri\oghachd a-ri\s
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaidh
air chaochladh smaoin.
This is "Flower of Scotland", the unofficial national anthem of Scotland
(written in the 1960's by the Corries) translated into Scottish Gaelic.
Story behind the song:
Aig ce\ilidh ann an Du\n De\agh sheinn Anna NicGillEathain a' Bheurla de
seo. Thuirt i rium, "'S bochd nach robh Ga\idhlig air an o\ran." Fichead
mionaid an de\idh sin dh'eirich i is sheinn i na facail seo, a chuir mi
ris fhad 's a bha sinn ag o\l cupan ti\!
John Angus Macleod, from his book "Na freumhan thug dhomh cothrom fa\s".
The book also contains Gaelic versions of "Bridge over troubled water",
"Mull of Kintyre", "A red red rose" and "The Dark Island". Available
from the author John Angus MacLeod, 76 Brisbane Street, Largs, Scotland,
KA30 8QN
[9.3.2] Auld Lang Syne
Auld Lang Syne
--------------
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintaince be forgot
And auld lang syne.
chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
And surely you'll be your pint stowp
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll drink a richt guid willy waught
For auld lang syne.
[chorus]
We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine,
But we've wandered monie a wearie fit'
Since auld lang syne.
[chorus]
We twa hae paidled in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But seas a'tween us braid hae roared
Since auld lang syne
[chorus]
And here's a hand my trusty fere
And gie's a hand o' thine
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
[chorus]
Words and original music: Robert Burns
See also [5.2] for more information on Burns and this song.
See [12.16] for info on Hogmanay / New Year customs
The original music for Auld Lang Syne is available at the following locations
http://www.siliconglen.com/culture/songs.html
http://www.siliconglen.com/culture/auldlangsyne.html
http://www.contemplator.com/tunebook/scotmidi/auldlng2.htm
[9.3.3] Amazing Grace
Miorbhail Gra\is
----------------
O Miorbhail gra\is! nach breagh' an ceo\l;
'S e lorg mi 's mi air chall,
Air seachdran dorch', gun neart, gun treo\ir,
'S a dh'fhosgail su\ilean dall.
'S e gra\s thug eo\las dhomh air m'fheum;
'S e gra\s thug saors' is si\th;
'S cha cheannaicheadh o\r a' chruinne-che\
Chiad la\ bha fios nam chri\dh'.
Tro iomadh cunnart 's trioblaid chruaidh
Thug E gu sa\bhailt mi.
An gra\s a shaor bhon bha\s le buaidh
Chan fha\g 's cha tre\ig gu si\or.
San dachaigh bhuan gun uair gun ti\m,
'S deich mi\le bliadhn' mar la\,
Cha sguir an ceo\l 's chan fha\s iad sgi\th
A' seinn a chaoidh mun ghra\s.
(Version sent to me by An Comunn Gaidhealach, translator unknown)
For information regarding the original English version of this
song, see
http://www.cgmusic.com/cghymnal/others/amazinggrace.htm
and
http://www.tch.simplenet.com/htm/a/amazgrac.htm
[9.3.4] Oh wee white rose of Scotland
Oh wee white rose of Scotland
Susanne Ferguson - 1986
Oh wee white rose of Scotland tell tae me
When wad ye rise and bloom wi fient a thorn
When wad ye rise up haill and straucht and free
Nae mair tae dwine forfochten and forlorn
Oh wad ye rise and scent the air again
Wi blossom blithe on branches noo abrede
Tae gar this land pit life in ye I'd spend
My warldis gear tae bring ye some remeid
Oh no this land's a kindly nurse tae me
It is the sky wi mirk is sair owercast
Thir days o dule they will only ended be
When fae a new airt blaws a fresher blast
When charity shall stand in Scotland's tongue
For leal and soothfu band wi aa that lives
When riches are nae mair the work o wrang
But shall requite the ane that freest gives
When Scotland's great are they wha kindest can
Lift ithers' loads tae gie their spirits room
Then wi a glad upspringin til the sun
The winds o aa the world I shall perfume
Glossary:
hail = whole
fient = hardly
straucht = straight
dwine = dwindle
forfochten = worn out
abrede = spread
tae gar = to make
warldis = all the world
remeid = relief
mirk = darkness
thir = these
dule = misery
leal = loyal
soothfu = truthful
This song has been recorded by the harp duo Sileas
[9.3.5] Loch Lomond
From Rudy Ramsey
mailto:ramsisle@abwam.com
I've been meaning to write the lyrics down, anyway. I couldn't find
them anywhere here (though there is a similar version in the CD insert
of the Corries' "Silver Collection", which I've misplaced). I know the
song well, though, and believe these lyrics to be accurate. I can't
remember where I originally got them, but I suspect it was Ewan
MacColl. The Corries' version of this song is truly beautiful, by the
way.
There's a lovely story associated with the song, and I believe it to be
the true origin of the "Loch Lomond" and "High Road" songs, of which
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