Songs Of Gaelic Scotland [Hardcover]

Anne Lorne Gillies (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2006

The Hebrides and Gaelic Highlands are one of the world's great treasure-houses of song. While many have plundered that legacy, from Marjory Kennedy Fraser onwards, most editions are either full of dubious emendation and alteration or are so scholarly as to be inaccessible except to specialists. This is the first collection of Gaelic song to address fully the needs of the singer and the needs of authenticity while remaining accessible to all. This collection combines the following features:

-- a general introduction to the Gaelic musical and poetic tradition -- reliable versions of the text and music for each song plus enough verses to make a viable performance -- full notes on the historical backgrounds of each song plus full references to other sources -- full notes on the technical aspects of the music and the song tradition -- full discography

Some of the songs in this collection date back to at least the fifteenth century but many of their elements reflect a culture far older still - a non-literate but far from ignorant society in which the arts were held in the highest reverence. It was through the highly trained memories of the bardic orders that knowledge was passed from one generation to another. To anyone interested in social history these songs paint a vivid picture of life among the Gaelic-speaking peoples, filling many of the gaps left by official histories and documents. These songs are a window into the lives of the people who composed and sang them - their hopes and fears, their jokes and preoccupations, what it was that made them angry or afraid. In their beauty and humanity they are amongst the jewels of western civilization.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'a panoramic view of the world of Gaelic song ... a superb achievement' - John MacInnes 'This book is unique in that it crosses the boundaries between music and literature. Nothing quite like it has ever been done for Gaelic. It is a truly wonderful achievement.' - Scots Magazine 'a remarkable book ... both scholarly and entertaining. She walks a fine tightrope between encouraging innovation and respecting tradition, never once falling off.' - Am Bratach 'beautiful and full of substance ... I believe that this book will be like a beacon that will last forever and be of untold value to generations still to come.' - --West Highland Free Press

About the Author

Anne Lorne Gillies is one of the best known figures in Scottish life today as a singer, songwriter, writer, educationalist, and political activist. Her musical career has spanned more than thirty years and crossed the world. She won a Mod Gold Medal when only seventeen and unusually combines a classical music training with a deep love and understanding of Gaelic culture. Her autobiography, Song of Myself, was published by Mainstream in 1993. She has also written many children's books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 558 pages
• Publisher: Birlinn Ltd (February 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184158018X
• ISBN-13: 978-1841580180
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,548,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great value: a book to cherish for a lifetime and more!, July 29, 2007

By 

Richard Munro (Bakersfield, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs Of Gaelic Scotland (Hardcover)

There is quite literally a lifetime of enjoyment in this book for lovers of Scotland, poetry, history and Gaelic song.
Those of us who love the Gaelic in these far shores of America and other places certainly are exiles to some degree but also custodians of what we consider a sacred relic and an essential part of our splendid ancient heritage such as the MIST-COVERED MOUNTAINS (played at JFK's funeral)

So here are some songs of YOUNG HEROES ( òglach):
Tha mi'n dùil, tha mi'n dùil I expect, I expect
Tha mi'n dùil-sa bhith tilleadh I expect to return
Dh'ionnsaigh Dùthaich MhicLèoid To the land of Macleod
Far an òg robh mi mire Where I played when I was young

Fhuair sinn litrichean o'n rìgh We got the letters from the king
Gus sinn fhìn dhèanamh ullamh So that we could prepare
Los a dhol a-null do'n Fhraing To go over to France
A chur braing 'san fhear-mhillidh To upset the destroyer (Boney; Napoleon though in another context it could be Hitler as well)

Nuair a chuir iad sinn air tìr When they put us ashore
A-measg shìobain is murain Among the waves and the sea-bent
Thug sinn batal air an tràigh We fought a battle on the beach
'S gun d'rinn pàirt againn fuireach And some of us remained

Fhir a dh'imicheas do'n Iar You who travel to the West
Ged robh bliadhna mun ruig thu Though it were a year before you arrive
Thoir an t-soiridh seo do m'ghràdh Bring this greeting to my loved one
"Ma is slàn mi gun tig mi" "If I am alive, I will come"

Tha mi'n dùil, tha mi'n dùil I expect, I expect
Tha mi'n dùil-sa bhith tilleadh I expect to return
Dh'ionnsaigh Dùthaich MhicLèoid To the land of Macleod
Far an òg robh mi mire Where I played when I was young

It is interesting to compare the tone of the old Highland song to this more modern Scots variation by Roddy MacMillan which is quite powerful.
I Will Go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When the King's son came along
And called us all together
Sayin', Brave Highland men
Will you fight for my father?
I will go, I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

I've a buckle on my belt
A sword in my scabbard
A red coat on my back
And a shillin' in my pocket
I will go, I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When they brought us all on board
The lasses were singin'
But the tears came to their eyes
When the bells started ringin'
I will go, I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When we landed on the shore
And saw the foreign heather
We knew that some would fall
And would lie there forever
I will go, I will go


Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When we came back to the glen
The winter was coming
Our goods lay in the snow
And our houses were burnin'
I will go... I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go