Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?

Subject: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 01:19 AM

I've been wracking my brain (is that a Spanish Inquisition term?) over a subject for a new thread, when I remembered a curious little book I picked up in Connecticut last summer.

It is The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer, by Alexander Mackenzie (small "k" is on purpose). The Brahan Seer was Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche aka Kenneth Mackenzie. This copy was published in 1972, and is an exact of the original with modern footnotes, maps, and illustrations added, as well as a forward by The Countess of Sutherland. The first accounting of his prophecies, that my book is a copy of, was published in 1899. He was burned at the stake as a supposed witch on orders of the Countess of Seaforth in the middle of the 17th century.

I haven't finished reading it, yet, but apparently his prophecies were well-known and believed by such notables as Sir Walter Scott, Sir Humphrey Davy, Lockhart, and others.

What I am wondering is if there were any songs written about him. I'm sure there must have been. I will check the DT, but I thought it was somehting interesting anyway, so went ahead and started a thread. Hey, at least I'm specific! No CDH for ME!

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 09:33 AM

I wish I kent mair aboot this, masel'...will be MAIST interestit tae see if onythin' turns up!!! Twa years back, a sma' circle o' folk on ma isle put taegither an evenin' o' Scottish sangs, tunes, dancin' an' vairse. A woman whae grew up near Inverness cam alang, an' she ended up daein' th' maist glorious bit o' storytellin' aboot Coinneach Odhar! On an warm april nicht in an auld wooden hall, wi' th' door open an' th' soond o' wee frogs peepin' ayont, she taud us th' prophet's story an' describit th' visions he saw thro' th' hole in his wee "faerie stone". Ilka bodie o' us wis leanin' for'ard in oor seats, rapt wi' attention an' fu' o' awe. I askit her aboot sources, an' she said th' piece she shared wis excerpted frae a play ane o' her friends wrocht back in Scotland. I askit her tae contact th' friend an' see if I cuid purchase a script, but then I left hame for schuil an' havenae haird back.

Kat, did ye get yer wee buik used? I'd love tae find a copy o' it for ma ainsel', an' want tae lairn mair aboot this maist extraordinary man! Post th' publisher's information, wuid ye?

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Ciaran
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 09:39 AM

How about "Brahan Seer" on "For Auld Lang Syne" by Gaberlunzie ?

Slan go foill!

Subject: Lyr Add: LAMENT FOR "THE LAST OF THE SEAFORTHS"^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 11:06 AM

Cuilionn,

I am delighted ta hear of your interest. My edition was "Printed and Published in the Highlands of Scotland by the SUTHERLAND PRESS, GOLSPIE July, 1970; second impression - January 1972", according to the inside cover.

My great-great grandmother, in Nova Scotia, was a Sutherland. I'm wonderin' if there's a connection?

The full title page reads as follows:

"THE PROPHECIES OF THE BRAHAN SEER (COINNEACH ODHAR FIOSAICHE)

By ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, F.S.A.(Scot.)

With Modern Footnotes, Maps and Illustrations"

Also, it was "First Published by ENEAS MACKAY, STIRLING Revised Edition 1899"

Yes, I did buy it used. If it is out-of-print or you absolutely cannot find a copy anywhere, I will be happy to copy it for you and send it over. It is just over 100 pages long. we have a copy center here, which only charges one cent on Sundays, so I really would behappy to do that. NOT that I make a habit of copying other people's works! Just rare, unobtainable pieces and I've only done it once before.

The Brahan Seer prophesied the end of the Seaforth line with the demise of Francis Humberstone, Lord Seaforth and his four sons, more than a century before they died. The book includes the following by Scott:

LAMENT FOR "THE LAST OF THE SEAFORTHS"

In vain the bright course of thy talents to wrong
Fate deaden'd thine ear and imprison'd thy tongue,
For brighter o'er all her obstructions arose
The glow of the genius they cold not oppose;
And who, in the land of the Saxon, or Gael,
Might match with Mackenzie, High Chief of Kintail?

Thy sons rose around thee in light and in love.
All a father could hope, all a friend could approve;
What 'vails it the tale of thy sorrows to tell?
In the spring time of youth and of promise they fell!
Of the line of MacKenneth remains not a male,
To bear the proud name of the Chief of Kintail.

And thou, gentle Dame, who must bear, to thy grief,
For thy clan and thy country the cares of a Chief,
Whom brief rolling moons in six changes have left,
Of thy husband and father and brethren bereft;
To thine ear of affection, how sad is the hail
That salutes thee -the heir of the line of Kintail!

Na 'm biodh an t'earball na bu ruighne bhiodh mo sgialachd na b' fhaide."

The "i"s in "bhiodh" and "fhaide" are supposed to have umlauts over them, but I couldn't figure it out on my PC.

The tombs of the Seaforths are in "the disused Fortrose Cathedral - The Chanonry of Ross".

From the book, with a photo, "Chanonry Point, on the Black Isle, where the Seer was burned to death in a tar barrel. The course of the road has altered during this century (20th), but the stone on the golf course is said to mark the spot of his execution."

I am beginning to study correct pronunciation of Gaellic thanks to a Mudcat link. May I ask a question of you, though, until I know more? What is the correct way to pronounce your name? My son's name is Colin and I would be interested to know if yours is the Gaellic spelling of his name.

I have no problem reading your postings and in fact really enjoy them, as I was raised on Burns, Scott, etc. and my father was apt to go on in the same vernacular, as he grew up with his Crawford grandparents, from Nova Scotia, and heard it all of his life in Colorado.

Thanks for writing!

Ciaran,

I am not familiar with the work you mentioned. Please tell me more about it, where I can find it, etc. I will check the DT when I get this posted. Thanks very much!

Katlaughing

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 11:09 AM

Sorry for the typos in Scott's poem. Also, I had checked the DT, earlier, for "Brahan Seer", to no avail.

Kat

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 02:08 PM

Ciaran,

Nevermind. As soon as I left here, I found the "Gabs" site on the net and samples some of their stuff. Good! They didn't have a clip of the Brahan Seer, though. They had some great links, too, though.

Since I lasted posted to this, I've done some more searching on the web. Amazon.com has a recent book called "Prophecies of the Brahan Seer" by Elizabeth Sutherland. It appears she's written several informatinal books about Scotland. I am unsure of the accuracy, even though she's a Sutherland, because in the review at Amazon, it said more Scottish consider the Seer to be the prophet Iasiah! THAT'S the first I've ever read of that! It does say it's a revised edition, so maybe she is a daughter or somethig of the Countess who put a forward in my book, or herself?

There are a couple more on the Seer by her, too, but they are out of print and would have to be searched for.

If we can determine that I'd not be infringing on copyrights, my offer still stands. I guess I'll email Amazon and try to get more info on her book.

There were a couple of websites which came up when I typed in Brahan Seer: www.coolpage.com/aries/articles/seer2.htm

and, one I couldn't get to open: www.nessie.co.uk/menu/highmenu.html

Later...

kat

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 05:58 PM

I found a number of used copies of various editions listed on Bibliofind.com at varying prices. One, at least, even had an introduction by (is it Andrew?) Lang, who did a bunch of fairy tale and ballad studies. I've already ordered the cheapest of the lot that sounded as if it were still holding up fairly well, but the others are up for grabs, folks.

I hope you got my e-mailed message, Kat.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 06:32 PM

Kat, muckle thanks for th' offer, an' I'll tak ye up on it! E-mail me wi' yir mailin' address an' I'll send ye aff reimbursement for shippin' an' handlin' an' sic. Cannae wait tae eddicate masel' a bittie mair!!!

I restrict masel' tae ain used buik shop, ance a month, since ma literary hunger far ootstrips th' amoont o' siller in ma purse, sae th' chance o' ma findin' it here is nae sae guid. Th' rumor frae th' intimmers o' Amazon.com is that th' place is a sweatshop, sae I cannae get buiks frae them until I find oot th' trowth o' th' rumor...which is a dreadfu' shame, since they seem like sic a grait resource!

Regardin' ma screen name, 'tis th' Gaelic waird for th' holly bush, relatit tae th' Cornish "kelyn" an' th' Auld Irish "culenn". Th' claisest I can come tae showin' th' correct pronounciation is "COOL-yun" or "COOL-iun." Th' sound is sairt o' betwixt those twa. If ye were tae refer tae a holly tree, th' form wuid change a bit tae "craobh chuilinn." (craobh bein' th' waird for tree, which ye say summat like "creuv".)

Accordin' tae ma Gaelic taicher, th' main thing tae keep in mind when ye're speakin'--oor singin'--Gaelic is that ye maun ne'er stop breathin'. Och, aye, that sounds like a jest, but 'tis th' trowth, for Gaelic disnae hae "glottal stops" or places whaur ye stop th' flow o' air tae mak a sound. Sae when ye come tae a difficult gaitherin' o' letters, "breathin' intae" them will almaist allus get ye claiser tae th' richt sound. --Cuilionn (e-mail: "[e-mail]")

P.S. I love th' seer's Gaelic name! It cuid be renderit as "th' wizard o' th' dappled moss," or "th' seer of th' sallow bog," amang ither possibilities...

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 07:13 PM

Cuilionn & Sandy,

Thanks. Yes, Sandy, I did get your email and you should have received both of mine by now.

Cuilionn, I LOVE the information you wrote! Thank you so much. As you can see, Sandy has found a source of hardback used copies. As I hate to infringe on anyone's copyrights, mayhap you could check on those ones first? Hopefully they won't be too expensive.

I think it was on the Amazon.com site where I saw a translation of his name to be Kenneth the Sallow, which shows a bit of ignorance on their part, eh? I've only ordered once from Amazon.com. I usually use it as a reference source for author or publisher. I prefer to support my local book shops if possible. If you find out more about the sweatshop rumour, please let me know. I do try to be PC in my consumerism.

You must have a wonderful Gaellic teacher, what fun! Please let me know what you find out. You can email me at [e-mail]

Thanks, again, guys!

Kat

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Philippa
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 11:57 AM

Derick S. Thompson's 'An Introduction to Gaelic Poetry' published by Victor Gollanz, London 1974, mentions that 'Coinneach Odhar' by 19th century Isle of Lewis bard Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn, "a poem about the legend of the Brahan Seer, is a modern heroic ballad. It is influenced distantly, mainly in matters of nomenclature, by James Macpherson's work, but weaves legend and imagination to make a new blend, It shows narrative strength, and has startling clarity, and a power with words, here in the main simple, terse vocabulary."
Unfortunately Thompson doesn't quote from this poem, although he gives lines in translation from Mac a' Ghobhainn's more politically oriented poetry. It was common for Gaelic poetry to be set to tunes. If I should come across the 'Coinneach Odhar' poem in my further reading, I'll let you know.

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Feb 99 - 01:48 PM

Thank, Philippa. That was really interesting. I'll have to see if I can find a copy of the poem.

Katlaughing

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PROPHET^^^
From: Alex
Date: 28 Feb 99 - 12:31 AM

Here's a more recent song by Wolfstone:

The Prophet

I saw a raven, plumage pale,
I saw him drink the blood of the Gael,
Above Clach Mor the gulls will wail,
Tonight the prophet gets paid.

Uig's stone so high and white,
Odin's birds got it in its sight
In Scaristavore they'll weep tonight,
For tonight the prophet gets paid.

Chorus: He who dances shall see him,
And they that lie will deceive him.
For there are those who cannot see him,
Tonight the prophet gets paid.

At Chanonry they scream advance
The Dove, the Crow, they circle and dance
Tasg spirits hold them in a trance
Tonight the prophet gets paid.

(chorus)

The Libran moon it waxed and waned
Darkness felt the sting of black rain
A thousand dreams couldn't mask the pain
The night the prophet got paid.
^^^

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 99 - 01:53 AM

Thanks, Alex. Pretty gothic, but then the death meted out to him wasn't pretty at all!

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Philippa
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 08:28 AM

I finally found a publication of Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn's poem "Coinneach Odhar". It takes up over 8 A5 pages in the book, so I'm not about to type out the full poem. But if you have some Gaelic and are keen to read the poem, try to get a hold of Iain Macleoid, compiler. "Bàrdachd Leodhais". Glasgow: Alasaird Mac Labruinn [McLaren], 1955 (pp 101-109) or the 1998 reprint published by Acair, Steòrnabhaigh (Stornaway, Isle of Lewis)(pp 120-29).

This 19th century poet is not to be confused with the 20th century writer of the same name. See my message of 14 Feb. There are several poems by Mac a' Ghobhainn in the compilation by Macleoid.

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Ewan McVicar
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 04:42 AM

When I was a school lad in Dingwall the Brahan Seer was part of our folklore. The Sports House I was assigned to in school was the Red House, Brahan, and were wore a red letter B. I've only within the last year started using some of the Seer tales in my own storytelling. Before that I considered Highland business only. I have some 3 editions of MacKenzies's book. Secondhand bookshops in Scotland usually have a copy somewhere, and it is periodically republished by someone or other. Isobel Sutherland is a noted authority on the Picts and other aspects of the Highlands. Anything she writes is worth reading. I think it was she who also wrote a fictionalised account of the seer under a rather lurid title. If I some across the details I'll post them.

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 11:37 AM

And, now I wonder, am I related to these Sutherlands, as my greatgran was one in Nova Scotia? Mmmmm, more genealogy work!

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 16 Jun 99 - 11:46 AM

Can you tell me if the Isobel Sutherland mentioned here is the same Isobel Sutherland we knew in London in 1958? She was a fine, powerful singer of Scottish ballads, many learned from the singing of Jeannie Robertson.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 06:48 PM

refresh just for the fun of reading Cuilionn's and others' postings!

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 05:26 AM

Sandy,

Sorry I never saw your query last time around. I check in to Mudcat only infrequently. The answer is I have csaued a confusion royale above, by turning Pictish expert Elizabeth Sutherland's name into Isobel Sutherland, the singer we both wot of - I met her once back in the late 50s, but know nothing of her since. By the by, Elizabeth Sutherland's fictional account of the Brahan Seer is called Ravens And Black Rain. As it happens, later this month I will be up on the Brahan Seer's ground, doing ten days storytelling work in Ross and Cromarty museums and libraries.

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: GUEST,KMK
Date: 03 Dec 05 - 12:32 PM

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: GUEST,KMK
Date: 03 Dec 05 - 12:46 PM

Please
Anyone got the words & chords to Gordon Menzies' "Brahan Seer" no luck on Google or Mudcat search

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Dec 05 - 06:15 PM

You probably already know, but it is included on the "For Auld Lang Syne" CD by Gaberlunzie. They didn't have the lyrics either there or at Gordon's website. Sorry if this is redundant.

kat

Subject: RE: Any Songs about the Brahan Seer of Scotland?
From: GUEST,KMK
Date: 04 Dec 05 - 10:59 AM

Thanks Kat
I have the tape of "For Auld Lang Syne" by the Gab's somewhere but I cant put my hands on it at the moment.
If I can manage to find it and transcribe the words I'll post them on this thread.
KMK

Subject: Lyr Add: BRAHAN SEER (Gordon Menzies)
From: GUEST,KMK
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 09:56 PM

Brahan Seer
Gordon Menzies of Gaberlunzie

I am Coinneach Odhar McKenzie
I am called the Seer of Brahan,
I can see into the future,
Through the stone of the shifting sands.
Chorus:- Hear these words from down the ages,
         Many truths are seen at last,
         The words of Coinneach Odhar McKenzie
         Future echoes of the past.

When there shall rise within Strathpeffer,
five most high and holy spires
Mighty ships will fly in glory
and anchor in Strathpeffer skies,
Round the hills of Tomnahurich
full rigged ships their cargos shed,
While shackles round that fairy hillside
chain the spirits of the ancient past. Chorus:-

Alas with grief I see Culloden,
ere many generations fly,
the widows tear s that drown Drumrossie,
the bravest of the clans must die,
Sad the days of dark destruction,
black the blood that rots the grass,
As brothers against brother battles,
all these things will come to pass, Chorus:-

When clansmen wear the garb of strangers,
moors will turn to fertile land,
Rich men richer, poor men poorer,
evil days befall Scotland,
Men will flee before the sheep,
to unknown islands across the sea,
The mighty stag will rule the highlands
all these things I plainly see, Chorus:-

Now I see the black rain falling,
northland wasted shore to shore
The exiles hear the highlands calling,
Return to claim their lands once more,
But I have offended the Seaforth lady,
the witches charge upon me laid,
her lord philaderers o'er the water,
but truth had better silent stayed, Chorus:-

Before I burn at Chanonry
one final prophesy I'll call
When Seaforths lord is dead and dumb,
the house of Seaforth then shall fall,
Four strong sons Mackenzie sires,
shall precede him to the tomb,
A hooded lass will then inherit,
but she will bring her sister's doom, Chorus:-

And all these things have come to pass