Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie

Subject: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From: GUEST,Guest, Big Tim
Date: 13 Dec 05 - 04:18 PM

A couple of years ago Dr. Anne Lorne Gillies mentioned in a Thread on Jim McLean's "Glencoe" that she was in the process of writing a book on Scottish Gaelic songs. Well, it was published recently, and it's a real beauty. Some details are:

"Songs of Gaelic Scotland" by Anne Lorne Gillies.
Birlinn [Edinburgh], 2005. 558 pages. Price £30 (available for £15 via Amazon UK).

CONTENTS
Muir is manran - Songs of the sea (35 songs).
Cinneadh is comhrag - Songs of clan and conflict (27 songs).
Fearann is fogradh - Songs of land and exile (27 songs)
Gaol is gradh - Songs of love (48 songs).
Spors is suirghe - Songs of courtship and convivialty (14 songs).

For each song is given: music, words in both Gaelic and English, historical/social background, informaton about the composer, and a list of available recordings of each song.

The book is a physically beautiful, quality production: a veritable treasure trove for anyone interested in Scots Gaelic language, music, literature or history.

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From:
Date: 13 Dec 05 - 05:33 PM

Thanks, Big Tim. Gotta get it ordered now. Would you have the ISBN?

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Dec 05 - 07:38 PM

She's an old friend as is her husband Neil the piper but why did she record my song Glencoe for Lismore and call it 'Trad arranged Anne Lorne Gillies'?

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From: GUEST,Guest, Tim
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 04:30 AM

Two ISBNs are given:
ISBN10: 1 84158 018 X
ISBN13: 978 1 84158 018 0

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From:
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 12:03 PM

Interesting. Two ISBNs! Thanks Tim. I wonder if one version comes with a CD!

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From:
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 06:15 PM

Out of curiosity, how expensive is the book?

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From: GUEST,Guest, Tim
Date: 15 Dec 05 - 12:54 PM

Two ISBNs, yes strange. Often when two are given, the second refers to a paperback edition. However, this particular book doesn't say that. I'm a bit baffled.

Read my first post re price, at which this book is a steal.

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 15 Dec 05 - 05:45 PM

Sorry. BUT, my experiences of Anne L G's past performances, mostly TV plus a couple of live events, have convinced me that she is a professional Gael. Her, nails-down-a-blackboard tone and "operatic" style is not for me either.

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:56 AM

I got it for Christmas. It's excellent. If I was only allowed to have one Gaelic songbook this would have to be it. Many thanks, B.T.!

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From:
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 04:37 PM

I just got the book on Friday, and have had my nose in it all weekend! (And I'm only half through the book.)

Just the breadth of songs in the book is amazing, but the inclusion of explanatory information on each of the songs is so much more than expected. I'm sure ANY Gaelic learner/singer will want to have this book in hand.

Auldtimer, I have never heard her perform live and have only 1 cassette of heres (Sings Songs of the Gael), and found the information given in the book to be most informative and gives an impression of her dedication to Gaelic in general and song specifically to be high on her priorities.

Subject: RE: Review: Songs of Gaelic Scotland (book AL Gillie
From: Big Tim
Date: 01 May 06 - 03:21 AM

I'm glad you lads agree that it's a very, very good book.

She's not my fave singer either but she's still pretty good. She's entitled to her own style and Auldtimer is equally entitled not to like it, but this is a book not a recording that we're talking about.                                                            

Try her album "White Rose o' June", 2003. It's the the songs of Carolina Oliphant (Lady Nairne). It's worth the money for the title track alone, not to mention the detailed background notes. (Anne has her own website)