Cape Breton weaver's Songs

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 08:24 PM

Malcolm,
I guess I didn't follow my own advice from earlier in this thread. :-}
An T-Alltan Dubh is a great resource, run by Neil MacEwan of Judique, Cape Breton.
          Slainte,
                Sandy

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 07:54 PM

If anyone wants the notation e-mail me at :
      [e-mail]
I will scan the notes from and send them as a jpeg.
            Slainte,
             Sandy
P.S.
My scanners text recognition doesen't like the Gaelic . I tried to correct mistakes but I probably missed some.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 07:45 PM

Translation

My Heart Is Sad

O ho air ill a bha ho
Ho air ithill a bha ho
Lads are rising og I o ,
                                                                                                                        My heart is sad, no wonder

'Twas a year from yesterday
That the big ship sailed away
May things go the very best
My darling Donald's steering

When I climbed the mast halfway,
I would go no higher up,
Said he, "You will have to go,
It's what you're getting paid for."

And when I had reached the top
I tied up the top-sail tightly,
Coming down I was afraid
I'd done it very poorly.

My love rides the greyish horse
That would gallop speedily,
I would gladly go with you,
My heart would leap with joy then.


My love rides the greyish horse,
That would run light-footedly
Though it were the steepest hill,
You'd ride him well, my Donald.


Now lam so filled with gloom,
Trying hard to keep awake,
Oft I'm at the milling house,
I'm happy singing songs there.


Over lofty mountains lies
The dwelling place of my love,
One whose heart was always warm,
And whom I loved too dearly.


And behind the wall of stone
I would recognize your steps,
But how sad am I tonight
Because we're not together.


Still my love for you will last
Like the rock beneath the sea,
Just as long as will the waves
That strike against it always.


And for you my heart's so soft,
It is like the warmest milk,
Just the same as is the cheese
You crumble in your fingers.


My love rides the brownish horse
That would run and win the prize,
'Twas your head of golden hair
That made me love you dearly.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 07:42 PM

There are also two texts and one tune at An t-Alltan Dubh, but no source information is given. It is perhaps the website of a private club.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 07:14 PM

MO CHRIDHE TROM

O ho air ill a bha ho,
Ho air ithill a bha ho,
Eiribh 'illean og i o,
Mo chridhe trom 's cha neonach.

A' bliadhna gus an de
Sheol an long mhor bho breid,
Gu'm bu mhaith a theid na deigh,
'Ga stiuradh m'eudail Domhnull.

'N uair a ruig mi leth a' chroinn,
Thuirt mi ris nach teid mi ann,
Thuirt e, "Feumaidh thu dhol ann,
'S e siod a gheall thu dhomh-sa".


'N uair a rainig mise suas,
Cheangail mi an top-sail gu cruaidh,
Eagal orm a tighinn a nuas,
Nach robh I uamhaidh boidheaeh.


Mo cheisd marcaich an eich ghlais
Ruitheadh 'us ghearradh e leum,
'S ml gu siubhladh as do dheigh,
Mo chridhe leum le solas.


Mo cheisd marcaich an eich ghlais,
Ruitheadh air barraibh a' chas,
Ged a bhiodh am bruthach cas,
Gu marcaich e thu, Dhomhnuill.


Gur e mise tha fo ghruaim,
Cumail eogadh ri MacSuain
, 'S tric a bha mi 's an tigh-luaidh,
Gu duanach gabhail orain.


'S ann air cul nam beanntan ard,
Tha aite comhnuidh mo ghraidh,
Fear dha 'm bhell an cridhe blath,
Do'n tug mi 'n gradh a leon mi.


'S ann air cul a' bhalla chloieh,
'S math an aithnichinn lorg do chos,
Och 'us oeh, mar tha mi 'n nochd
Gur bochd nach d'fhuair mi coir ort.


Tha mo chridhe dhut cho buan
Ris a' chreag tha 'n grunnd a' chuain,
No comh-ionnan ris an stuaidh
A bhuaileas orr' an comhnuidh.


Tha mo chridhe dhut cho tlath,
Tha e ris am bainne blath,
No comh-ionnan ris a' chais'
A dh' fhasgas tu fo d' mheoirean.


Mo cheisd marcaich an eich dhuin
Ruitheadh 's bhuannaicheadh an geall
'S e falt buidhe a bh'air do cheann,
A dh'fhag mi'n geall cho mor ort.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 06:15 PM

JTT & George,
I don't have any of MacLeod's books but I called my sister who is a big fan of his. She tells me that the song is "Mo Chridhe Trom". She said that she would e-mail the verses in the book to me later tonight.
In the meantime I found the song in Fad Air Falbh As Innse Gall.(Beyond the Hebrides) Pages 253 & 254.
What you quote is most of the 8th verse. there are 12 in total.
If i can get my scanner to work I will post it here.
                Sandy

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From:
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 04:23 PM

Hi Andi,
I vaguely remember talking to you. Don't remember when though.

I'm afraid I don't know much about the WEAVING songs. I do know people who work at the Highland Village, and will ask for more information. Will see what we rustle up.

Sorry, JTT, don't recognize it. Any more specifics or description in the book?

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 11:43 AM

Sandy, I've been looking for years for a song quoted in Alastair MacLeod's story The Tuning of Perfection; the verse he quotes goes something like this:

Is ann ar chúl na mbeanntainn árd
Atá teach chónaithe mo ghrá
Fear a bhfuil a chroí i mbláth

(only it's in Scots Gaedhlig, not Irish). Would you know the rest of it, and if there's a tune, by any chance?

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: GUEST,andi
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 08:25 PM

Hi George,

Somehow I thought you'd know this. I was all over in Cape Breton....and yes I was at the Highland Village in Iona, for a Celebration that I think happens every year....it was a week end long event on the Village Grounds, there were several performers there, but there was a Group of singers who did two pieces, in Gaelic, that the anouncer discribed as "weaver's songs." There was also a milling song, which I had heard of before, but the weaver's song really 'caught' me.

No, it was not at the Gaelic College, I studied weaving and fiddle there and it is a wonderful place, but it was not where I heard it.
BTW, George I hope you don't mind me saying that one of the reasons I visited Cape Breton in the first place was because of a discussion I had with you a couple of years ago about the hertiage of music in Atlantic Canada. Taking you up on your advice to visit the area and hear how the tradition is kept alive was one of the best things I ever did for myself...so Thanks for that advice. :)
andi

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From:
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 02:22 PM

I know there are Weaving songs, as well as the waulking/milling/fulling songs.

Which are you interested in? Where were you in Cape Breton and with whom were you singing? Was it the Highland Village in Iona? If you could be more specific we can give more information. The Waulking songs are more abundant. Weaving songs are available but not easy to find online. IF you were at the Gaelic College, where they have a weaving display, they might have sung some songs during a demonstration of weaving.

We have a group in Halifax singing the Waulking songs. The group is called An Cliath Clis

There are about 80 of the songs there. Some have translations.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: GUEST,winniemih
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 11:02 AM

Geoff and Rebecca May's website is www.ceilidhculture.com. They have been learning gaelic for a number of years, studying with the last native Gaelic speakers of Cape Breton ( who nowadays number about 50). They sing with a Gaelic singing group, Coisir an Eilean, and arrange Cape Breton tours, and are a great source of information about the history and music of Cape Breton.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 09:28 AM

Milling and waulking are the same. It is usually referred to as milling here in Cape Breton and waulking in Scotland.
The newly woven cloth is dampened and kneaded to soften and fill out the fibers. This work being done to the beat of a Gaelic song.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 07:19 AM

MacLeods i9s my favourite place on the planet. You may want to listen to some songs by Mary Jane Lamond as well.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: GUEST,winniemih
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 01:14 AM

Was it maybe a waulking song? This refers to the working of the raw wool ( or fabric, I can't remember which) to prepare it.. done by a group of people at a long table, and inspiring many Gaelic tunes, kind of call and response( on chorus). I had the wonderful experience of attending such a session last summer in cape Breton. It was a historical view of Cape Breton through song, presented by Geoff and Rebecca May. I'm at work now and can't remember their website, but will look for it in the A.M.
    I spent a wonderful 2 weeks last summer camping at MacLeod's Campground near Inverness, west side of Cape Breton, and attending the Ceidlh Trail School of Music, with Buddy MacMaster and Brenda Stubbert as my fiddle teachers! I plan to go back in 2 years. It's about 5000 miles from my home in Oregon but in spirit very close to my heart.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 09:51 PM

http://www.geocities.com/alltandubh/
Sorry, this should be page one.

Subject: RE: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 09:48 PM

What you probably heard was milling song. You can look here:
          http://www.geocities.com/alltandubh/A.html

Subject: Cape Breton weaver's Songs
From: GUEST,Andi
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 07:59 PM

Last summer when I was in Cape Breton, I was fortunate enough to attend the Highland Games ( Days?) and there was a group of folks singing a Gaelic song, that they discribed as a weaver's song.
Has anyone else heard these and know where I could get the lyrics to a few?
Thanks,
andi