Here’s a great for the folkies among us, a series of performances filmed in lockdown curated by Julie Fowlis, who also presents (in Gaelic with English subtitles). There are individual and collaborative performances from across the world, the collaborations often being filmed in separate locations. It is only broadcast in Scotland but the first two episodes are on iPlayer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000j48p/julie-fowlis-ceol-aig-baile
That looks excellent. It won’t be broadcast in Sweden of course, but I managed to find a small taste of it on BBC Alba’s Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/1057270191075906/videos/445376803114200
BBC Alba has programmes in Gaelic. Here’s a cooking lesson.
Other than Julie’s music, I’ve never heart Scottish Gaelic, so this was fascinating.
…and this’ll be right up your street, KFD…
That Ross Ainslie gets about.
He really does, not content with pipes and whistle with just about anyone ever with a foot in Celtic Connections, he also pops up on stringed instruments with Dougie:
https://youtu.be/wP8A9rtg0iI.
Getting a bit stressed out by it all, he recently took himself off to a spiritual retreat for some down time. So he did another record there….Vana, out now, I think.
Any excuse to post a few tunes by Mr Ainslie.
You are my go-to guy for all this Scottish folk stuff, Retro. Thanks!
Weird! I do not know one single word of Scottish Gaelic. Not even thankyou or beer!
Though you do know the word slogan which is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic and Irish sluagh-ghairm (sluagh “army”, “host” + gairm “cry” and whisky from uisce beatha.
Slainte? Works both sides of the North Channel.
Tim Edey was the last live act that we had before the folk club had to stop being physical. I would be very happy if he was the first one when we reopened too.
Thanks for that language lesson, Hubert and Cheshire!
If I had checked I could have also mentioned, Ceilidh, shindig, capercaillie, plaid, loch, crag and most surprsingly: galore.
The one that I love most is Tioraidh, which is pronounced (obviously!) as “cheery” and is surely the derivation of cheerio, at a time of parting. Tioraidh means (good)bye, many scot of a certain age still using the combination as cheery-bye.
Topically – there’s been a six part series on whisky on BBC Alba fairly recently – looked at the regions individually and had a tasting session, as well as the usual history and distillery tours…Gaelic with English subtitles, which is the usual format.
Started learning the Gaelic on Duolingo in March, but it fell off my attention as other things demanded my time and attention. Must start again. Fascinating language: lots of words that have slipped into English, and, like french, quite a lot of, shall we say, anglaelic. (As opposed to franglais)
I noticed that in the programme, occasional words which I recognise among the Gaelic. It’s strange how Gaelic is so easy on the ear when Welsh sounds like a cat throwing up.
Annibyniaeth.
It’s good how widespread a language it is becoming now. Over the last few years there has been a definite campaign to rescue it from being stigmatised as a “dead language”. My son and my wife both speak it – but languages are not my thing and I’m too stuck in my ways to try to learn it!
That is wonderful news, Arthur. I bet Julie’s success has helped a fair deal.
She is a singer who I enjoy enormously without understanding a single word.
Thanks for the Salsa Celtica clip, Fitter. It’s a cracker And there’s even a translation of the lyrics in the notes.
My “mother tongue” is Welsh as my late mother grew up speaking it on the Prescelly Hills. I know two or three words.
So as for Gatz’s comment about vomiting moggies, I am shocked and offended, and will be having a huff all afternoon!!
I spent my teens in North Wales, and it’s difficult to forgive a place that. I say North Wales, but my school was walking distance from the border and we would sometimes sneak out and go to England for lunch.
That still meant that when I moved there from Glasgow I had two years of compulsory Welsh lessons. I can still count from one to ten in Welsh, and I used to know the Welsh for ‘Mr Jones had bacon and eggs for breakfast’ but I lost that somewhere along the way, which I can’t say I particularly regret.
And I do find it a particularly unpleasant spoken language, but then the North Wales accent is pretty grim and could have a lot to do with it.
You seem nice.
When one is a teen, compulsory Welsh is probably the last thing one wants, so I can easily forgive you Gatz.
We had compulsory French and I was struggling with the letters.
Today I discovered that Ms Fowlis appeared on the soundtrack of the animated film, Brave. Hope it made her a few bob.
I also heard from Hubert that Sandy Denny had sung in Gaelic.
The next big thing could be Gaelic hip hop.!
https://celticlifeintl.com/gaelic-in-modern-music/
Hmmmmmm…
Here is Griogair in more rootsy mood.
From 2003, this:
https://realworldrecords.com/videos/martyn-bennett-grit-documentary/
Heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Silly boy and so late to the game….
A million years ago, the Beat Poets provided the theme music for the BBC Scotland show named after the gaelic word for “going out for a pint and staying out past suppertime” – Ran Dan.
With vocals –
instromentally –
I enjoyed that theme song a lot.
I tried to find out more about the Beat Poets. Instead I discovered this about BBC Gaidlig.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_G%C3%A0idhlig
Arf!
I attempted to find which Scottish Gaelic artists were best known,
I failed but did discover this blog by Emily McEwan.
https://gaelic.co/gaelic-voices/
In her teens she heard this stupendous song by Catherine-Ann MacPhee and was hooked on Gaelic music for life.
And she has lots of excellent suggestions.
Anyone heard of Runrig? They sound like a great band…Just the sort of combo that would be very popular here.
Ooops !¨ll get my kilt
Hi, @Kaisfatdad – if you get onto YouTube (as opposed to YaWeeTubeYe) and search for BBC Alba Celtic Connections, there’s some really interesting music to be found – tv coverage of the festival in Glasgow – not all Gaelic, but a high percentage…
Just one example…
I am a bit of an Emily McEwan, heard it and hooked for life. Yup, it would have been ‘the Scottish band’ that introduced me, then moving into Capercaillie and then the Skye was my limit: I have shelves of the stuff, and keep my eyes out for more. Rather than distress you with lists, here’s a reminder why these guys
keep my heart beating, Niteworks
I’d never heard of Niteworks or Kathleen MacInnes. Thanks Retro!
Shame on me! I’ve been missing out. Something new and rather exciting.
Here is Kath at the Celtic Colours Festival at Cape Breton. They have a pretty excellent line-up by the look of things.
As recommended by Fitter, I’ve been exploring Celtic Connections.
Founded in 1994, it is pretty remarkable event which is aimed very much at the local community.. Lots of free gigs for schoolkids.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Connections#:~:text=The%20Celtic%20Connections%20festival%20was,around%2032%2C000%20people%20to%20attend.
And then fine stuff like this. I could spend hours browsing.
And Julie of course!
Four years ago, Celtic Connections featured a one off (almost) show titled Pilgrimer. It was Hejira rewritten in Scots and performed by a variety of suitable guests. I couldn’t make Glasgow that January, but in the summer I saw Karine Polwart sing the track Hejira. I wept at the beauty. Honestly.
That would have been a show…would have loved to have seen that…
You and me and a few million others, Fitter. It sounds amazing.
Thanks for telling us about it, Cheshire.
Here’s a review. The second half of the show was sundry songs from the Joni songbook.
https://karinepolwart.com/blogs/union-chapel-london-the-guardian/posts/pilgrimer-celtic-connections-the-list
Here is another review which fills in a lot of details.
https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=3215
This interview with novelist James Robertson provides the story about how it all came to pass.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/14/james-robertsons-pilgrimer-joni-mitchell-offered-me-key-open-up
His epic novel, And the Land Lay Still, is a fantastic portrait of modern Scotland.
I had a chat with Karine a year or so later asking whether it was likely to be toured, but she said that it was unlikely. I should have booked sick from work and gone.
I am amazed that I cannot find a snippet of it anywhere, Cheshire. How peculiar that it was not recorded at all.
Another useful review:
https://www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/re-imagining-joni-mitchells-hejira/
And an interview with Robertson.
http://katemolleson.com/interview-james-robertson/
You can “book” sick?
“Yeah, I’m planning to have a bit of a throat in mid-February. I’ve bought the lozenges and everything”
Robertson, Polwart and Yorkston did this evening together in 2015. Must have been something special.
https://www.taesup.co.uk/james-yorkston-karine-polwart-james-robertson-091015/
That was smashing.
Great tip, Fitter! It did strike me that the Celtic Connections Festival must have sowed some seeds for Julie’s new TV show.
TV presenter, singer, educator, step dancer, journalist and weather girl!
How is it that I have never heard of Joy Dunlop?
There are not many artists featured n the AW who do a weather forecast. Except of course for this chap…
Want to hear about the weather in Scots Gaelic? I know I do!
I’d never heard of Catherine-Ann MacPhee either.
A fine voice!
Here is a bit of her life story.
https://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/Catherine-Anne%20MacPhee.html
Well I never!
I was quite surprised to discover that there were a large number of Gaelic speaking slaves (mostly Irish) on Iceland.
https://icelandmag.is/article/celtic-influence-icelandic-language-and-culture-likely-greater-previously-believed
And that the Viking probably invented haggis!
https://icelandmag.is/article/haggis-originally-brought-scotland-vikings-award-winning-scottish-butcher-argues
Have there ever been any hit singles n Scottish Gaelic? I found this one by Canadian Mary Jane Lamond. Rather catchy.
The Scotsman’s verdict on Pilgrimer. Shame that JuIie did not get to do Cactus tree in Gaelic,
https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/celtic-connections-review-pilgrimer-glasgow-1485322?r=4149
From the splendid Rab Noakes – Anniversaryville CD – Tennessee Waltz, sung by Kathleen MacInnes, with the opening lyrics in Gaelic
That combination of the two languages works a treat, Malo.
Here’s something I was not expecting to find: C & W in Gaelic! Rather jolly too. From the Glasgow Grand Ole Opry
Here’s Jenna Cumming again, singing a more traditional song. What a voice!
As we can see from her new TV show, Julie Fowlis enjoys playing together with musicians from other backgrounds. Here she is with her husband, Eamon Dooley, together with two Irish musicians, husband and wife duo, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqELnKDHiWY&t=720s
They’ve recorded a whole album together, Allt, with Gaelic songs from Scotland and Ireland.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/julie-fowlis-%C3%A9amon-doorley-zo%C3%AB-conway-and-john-mcintyre-allt-review-awesome-foursome-make-musical-magic-1.3704343
On Spotify. I intend to give it a serious Tigger Testing.
A little more of Zoe and John.
What a find! That girl can play the fiddle!
This fine clip of Martyn Bennett playing live at CC is probably from that doc that Peanuts Molley mentioned above.
It emphasises the importance of Celtic Connections as regards changing attitudes towards traditional music in Scotland. No coincidence that the musical director of the festival is a member of Capercaille whom have done so much to increase the popularity of Scottish traditional music by pushing the envelope.
Here’s a fine Gaelic documentary about them (with subtitles for us English speakers).
“This fine clip of Martyn Bennett playing live at CC is probably from that doc that Peanuts Molley mentioned above.”
No it’s not, @kaisfatdad
The Grit documentary that I posted the link to above is something very, very different and well worth watching.
(Here it is again: https://realworldrecords.com/videos/martyn-bennett-grit-documentary/ )
Thanks for putting me straight @Peanuts Molloy.
I will definitely find the time to watch that doc at the weekend.
This thread has opened up many new doors as regards both ancient and modern Scottish music.¨ I feel certain I will be
travelling around the highlands and islands for quite a while to come.’
Do feel very free to comment and suggest stuff.
Country and Western in Gaelic? I will see you that and raise you 70s Funk in Welsh
Thanks a lot @ganglesprocket. Wonderful stuff.
I’m impressed!
No doubt about it! Further explorations in Wales are called for!
The Eistedfodd has clearly changed a bit since the days of geezers in white robes !
Out of the blue, I just got a message from a Scottish lass who I met at a Ceilidh here a while back.
She must have noticed my enthusiastic comments on Facebook about Scottish folk music.
Anyway, she really like Daimh and suggested I gave them a listen.
Excellent!
Anyway, I sent her my playlist based this thread
and she wrote back and told that our singing, dancing weather lady, Joy Dunlop had been her Gaelic teacher!
Small world indeed
Incidentally, on the Daimh FB page, there was a link t this list by Hamish Napier.
Check him out on Spotify. He does great folky playlists.
Hamish Napier’s great, either doing his own stuff or as a right hand man to folk like, inevitably, Ross Ainslie, but also fiddle man extraordinaire, Duncan Chisholm. Whist he doesn’t sing, he plays exquisitely.
I love these odd examples of “small world” links in unexpected places…
And don’t forget Peatlemania, the new sound sweeping Stornoway, Peat and Diesel, who mix the english and the gaelic as freely as any Lewisman might.
Thanks introducing us to Niteworks, Retro.
I was just taking a quick look at their 2019 CC gig.
I don’t think Jimmy Shand did too many shows like this.
A heady mixture of political comment, ancient and modern music styles and a dramatic, exciting stage show. Wow!
I just stumbled across this YT clip. It seems to be the first programme in Julie’s TV series.
Here are several more episodes. All very good stuff, as far as I can see. I do admire her for doing this. So full of energy, enthusiasm and good ideas.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiTR3y5X_qd83Fv15DRboug/videos
Enjoy!
Thanks a lot @Gatz.
Due to you starting this thread, my knowledge of Scottish Gaelic music has increased enormously.
As has my respect and enthusiasm about Julie Fowlis. I’ve been entranced by her music ever since I heard a track on a Songlines sampler, more than a few years back. Listening to few more tracks during the last few days has really bolstered my enthusiasm.
And i really respect the way that she is using her own popularity to boost the popularity of others.
Julie, James Yorkston, Karine Polwart, Niamh are all doing their bit for Scottish culture.
And so many exciting new names for many of us….
Jenna Cummings, Griogair Labhruidh, Joy Dunlop, Catherine-Anne McPhee, Alasdair Codona, Kathleen MacInnes ……
And to my delight, over on Facebook, people are mentioning bands I might like-.
It gives me great pleasure to present Rhuvaal, a young, talented band from from Argyll.
Well I never! Stand up comedy in Gaelic.
Which is actually rather amusing…