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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: PHJim Date: 19 Feb 21 - 08:53 PM 35 years ago, Maggie and I were piped out of the church after our wedding to an air called "The Lewis Bridal Song" which was the instrumental version of Mairi's Wedding. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Felipa Date: 19 Feb 21 - 10:36 AM In both Iriah and Scottish Gaelic, there is often a change in the initial consonant when you address someone. A bit like saying yo, Joe instead of just Joe, one prefaces the address with the syllable "a". So I would address Máiri, "a Mháiri" and Sheamas, "a Shéamais". It is from this vocative case that the Anglicised Scottish names Mhairi and Hamish derive. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Tattie Bogle Date: 19 Feb 21 - 10:18 AM One of our Scottish newsreaders is called Mhairi Stewart: she pronounces her first name as with a V but a very short A (as in cat) rather than a longer AH. The Irish Maire is different again. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Gordon Jackson Date: 19 Feb 21 - 05:38 AM Although I too pronounce this Mah-ree, just having the name Maire doesn't mean that how YOU pronounce it is necessarily the correct way; witness the number of Kinsellas and Costellos, for instance. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Backwoodsman Date: 19 Feb 21 - 04:49 AM My chemistry teacher back in the ‘60s used to pronounce Hawaii ‘Hay-way-eye’. Oh, how we laughed! :-) |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Jim McLean Date: 19 Feb 21 - 04:32 AM Two men were arguing over the pronunciation of Hawaii. One said Hawiee the other said Haviee so they asked a passing stranger to adjudicate. He said Haviee. “Thank you,” said the men. “You’re velcome,” came the reply. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST Date: 18 Feb 21 - 02:23 PM another person called Mairi. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Jack Campin Date: 14 Feb 21 - 04:22 AM The vocative Mhairi is not quite Vaaree. The initial consonant is a sound that doesn't occur in English - form your lips into more of a B shape and release the air more slowly than for a V. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,Mairi Date: 13 Feb 21 - 04:43 PM It’s pronounced Maah-ree. It’s my name, so I should know how to pronounce it :) |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: manitas_at_work Date: 17 Feb 10 - 08:21 AM Perhaps you were thinking of the Dooneen thread? |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Gallus Moll Date: 16 Feb 10 - 07:11 PM Thanks for trying - if it is my Dunoon, perhaps I can answer whatever the original Q was!!! |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 15 Feb 10 - 03:27 PM I've made a couple tries at finding that thread for you, Gallus, but I can't find it. Perhaps someone else will have better luck. Perhaps I made a mistake and the town under discussion was not actually Dunoon. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Gallus Moll Date: 15 Feb 10 - 11:10 AM Leeneia mentioned another thread - google-earthing Dunoon? Please tell me the name / date / subject of that thread? (Just curious to see what was being said - I live in Dunoon -- !) |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,Mr Red Date: 15 Feb 10 - 11:02 AM Well Andy Stewart always pronouced it Mar-ree in one flowing word. Mind you he had a peculiar way of pronouncing trousers. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: doncatterall Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:10 AM Allan & Dave I bow to you superior Knowledge Don |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Dave MacKenzie Date: 14 Feb 10 - 03:22 PM If you're not talking to her it would be M rather than Mh, hence Mahree rather than Vahree. The rules are pretty much the same as in Welsh, though the orthography's different. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,Allan C Date: 14 Feb 10 - 12:48 PM "As a non-gaelic speaker I used to address a friend called Mhairi as "Mahree" but she told me that the correct Gaelic pronunciation is "Vahree" (and was quick to correct anyone calling her "Mahree")" I'm not a Gaelic speaker myself but I am sure that the pronounciation differs when you are addressing the person. Hence speaking to Mhairi then you would prnounce it with a 'v' but when speaking about Mhairi then it would be with the 'm' - so in the song the correct pronounciation would be Mah-ree even in the Gaelic. And of course 99% of Scots or so aren't Gaelic speakers anyway |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: doncatterall Date: 14 Feb 10 - 12:34 PM As a non-gaelic speaker I used to address a friend called Mhairi as "Mahree" but she told me that the correct Gaelic pronunciation is "Vahree" (and was quick to correct anyone calling her "Mahree"). Don |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: MAG Date: 14 Feb 10 - 12:12 PM tried to change the thread title; sorry. |
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Subject: RE: Scots how to pronounce From: MAG Date: 14 Feb 10 - 12:11 PM Bonnie George Campbell and other songs -- any guides on the correct pronunciation? |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 21 May 09 - 05:24 PM I found it, and I see what you mean. It's a good tune. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: BobKnight Date: 21 May 09 - 02:25 PM I found quite a few versions on YouTube. Search for "Willie's Gone To Melville Castle." You'll find a version by the Corries, not a bad version by Big Stewart Parker,(never heard of him before) and further down the list a version by Robert Lovie which is a better recording - clearer. Hope you like it. I don't sing it myself, but it's always been one of my favourites, along with "Jock O' Hazeldene." |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 21 May 09 - 09:17 AM I can find the lyrics for that, but not the tune. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: BobKnight Date: 21 May 09 - 04:47 AM Another nice bouncy song is, "Willie's Gan Tae Melville Castle." |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 20 May 09 - 09:46 PM Hello, Mairi, it's nice to hear from you. Mah-ree is exactly how we sang it at the Highland Games. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,Mairi Date: 20 May 09 - 06:33 PM Im called Mairi and Im scottish. In the song 'Mairi's Wedding' it's always pronounced Mah-ree |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 24 May 08 - 10:54 AM You are a gentleman and a scholar. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: catspaw49 Date: 23 May 08 - 01:31 PM Emphasize the KEE ..... Absolutely your choice and I believe it to be a good one. And just to keep Dylan out of it we'll call him Robert Zimmerman! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 23 May 08 - 10:05 AM Thanks for the link, Sandy. I plan to tell listeners at the Games about changing M to V. It will intrigue them. ==== Spaw wrote: 'As a matter of fact I know a family in Minnesota named Novak.' That's absolutely amazing, Spaw. I know a family in WISCONSIN named Novak! But Terakedis will do if I put the emphasis on the Ke. Will that be all right? However, I hate to bring Bob Dylan into this, no matter how peripherally. His voice has irritated me since Day 1. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Sandy Mc Lean Date: 22 May 08 - 09:08 PM The proper title is the Lewis Bridal Song but Mairi's Wedding is more often used now. It was written in the 1930's in Gaelic by Johnny Bannerman and was later translated to English by Hugh Robertson. Mairi is pronounced Mah-ree with the emphasis on the first part. I have also heard it in Gaelic as Myr-ee but the first is much more common. "Mh" changes the M to a V as stated earlier and would be correct when addressing a person directly. More about the song here: http://www.mysongbook.de/msb/songs/l/lewisbr.html#gaellink
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: catspaw49 Date: 22 May 08 - 08:40 PM No problem leeneia......Feel free to use Novak. As a matter of fact I know a family in Minnesota named Novak. Their eldest daughter went to school with Bob Dylan where they live in Hibbing. The thing is though, they pronounce Novak as Terakedis (Tair-uh-kee-diss) but I'm sure you can use Novak for Mairi. Always makes me feel good to help out on these things......... Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Rumncoke Date: 22 May 08 - 08:29 PM When I first started to sing in folk clubs I was always being asked for the words to my songs, so I wrote them down and took along sheets of paper for the copying of them - I soon learned not to lend pens. Now I have a collection of about 300 songs and still keep remembering more to write down. The latest one is clyde water, but I supose I should add Matty Groves too - always another song, and as I get older they get longer. I started out with three verses and a chorus and gradually grew into the ballads, which seems to be a pretty standard progression amongst singers. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 22 May 08 - 10:23 AM 1. Forget about the posting of the Scots Bransle. Technical problems. 2. Thanks, guest, but the trouble with the word 'marry' is that some people pronounce it to rhyme with 'starry' and some people pronounce it to rhyme with 'Barry.' I've seen more than one reference to it in books about English. However, I believe your cousin's pronunciation is what others have suggested here, so I'm happy to hear that we will be all up to date and correct at the Harp Tent. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST Date: 22 May 08 - 10:15 AM my cousin is called Mairi pronounced maarry as in marry |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 22 May 08 - 09:30 AM Spaw, thanks for the suggestion. I see that once again you march to that different and distant drummer. Trouble is, Mairi has two syllables and Jablonski has three. Would it be all right if I substituted Novak for Mairi? Or Sobczak? Rumncoke, you have a collection of songs going back to the 60's? I'm impressed. I'm sure that I've learned many songs since then that have gone the way of the buffalo. As for the name, the consensus is that it's Mah-ree, and that's a good sound to sing. Kid, are you sure your screen name isnt' actually Kidder? Yesteray I excavated a 16th C dance tune called 'The Scots Bransle.' If the friends are willing to learn a new piece, we will be doing that at the Games. I believe I'll ask Joe to post the MIDI... |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Rumncoke Date: 22 May 08 - 06:18 AM Having just sung it over to myself I find that I pronounce the Marie in the verse with a longer 'a' than in the chorus. Longer 'a' and more aspirate 'r'. It is fairly early in my book (no 25) so it was most likely written down around 1969 or 70, but I wonder if I heard bits of it sung by two different people and picked up the pronunciation at different times. I used to have a very accurate memory for sounds and songs and learned some at one hearing. I don't think that you have to go back to gaelic to get a song right - if you are singing the rest of the song in your local intonation to try to put in something alien to the area is just plain wrong. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,The Kid Date: 22 May 08 - 05:27 AM It should be pronounced M' - ARGH - eeeze! wedding |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: catspaw49 Date: 21 May 08 - 06:56 PM Tell ya' what leeneia.......We're old buddies and you know that Spaw won't steer you wrong so I suggest you pronounce it Jablonski (Juh-blon-skee) and not worry about it. I do that with my name. Its spelled P-A-T-T-E-R-S-O-N but I pronounce it Jablonski except on Tuesdays that fall on the first of the month and then I say "Smith." This shows your true spirit and indepencence, your willingness to point up what a pain in the ass it is to use proper sounding words in foreign languages. Go for it......Say "JABLONSKI" and be proud!!! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Rowan Date: 21 May 08 - 05:59 PM Yes, leeneia, "crazy" can be applied to lots of situations involving "rules". All the best with your efforts! Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 21 May 08 - 08:59 AM Rowan, it's nice to hear about your daugher's success. (You realize, don't you, that the reference to 'crazy' referred to the rules which require the same garment for a hot day in Missouri as for a chilly day in Scotland?) We have been practicing our music for the games - Mhairi's Wedding, the Devil in Texas, Flow Gently Sweet Afton and The Stool of Repentence (instrumental). If that's not enough, we will add some early music just to show the people what it's like. The object is to provoke a few smiles. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: GUEST,MHAIRI~ Date: 20 May 08 - 10:23 PM its pronouced maah-ree. Or Vaah-ree in true gaelic. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Marje Date: 23 Apr 08 - 06:43 AM When you come to pronounce Mairi in the song, you don't have much choice about how long to hold the "ah" sound it - the song rhythm tells you that, and also puts the stress on the first syllable. The only thing left for the Sassenach to decide is which "a" to choose (as in "marry" or as in "far"). In fact, Scots speakers make little or no distinction between these two sounds, so just aim for a general middling-open "ah". Marje |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: Rowan Date: 22 Apr 08 - 09:40 PM Another reason for kids to think that adults are basically crazy. Well, I thought I'd steered my daughters clear of competitive dancing but #2 has a girlfriend whose parents are very Scottish, to the extent that everyone has to be involved with the local pipe band; the son plays pipes extremely well but the daughter plays drum only reluctantly. She learns the dances though and my daughter went along to see what Highland dancing was all about, She took to it like a duck to water; whenever the two were competing, mine took 1st prize while her mate took second. Fortunately, as a result of the championships at McLean over Easter, they're now in different competition categories. And McLean is subtropical coastal northern NSW. Daughter #2 will be accompanying her mum to Edinburgh for mum's 3 months' study leave in September this year and the dancing teacher is beside herself with enthusiasm forgetting my daughter up to the next competition grade so she can take on the Edinburgh scene. Sigh! It's not just the parents who initiate these things. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 22 Apr 08 - 08:30 PM Remember there are summer-weight tartans as well. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding From: GUEST,gnu Date: 22 Apr 08 - 11:40 AM Thanks for the link, gnu. It's a cute group, but I wish the singers would hold still. I believe they've seen too much River Dance. It was nice to see the little girls dancing in their cotton skirts and blouses at what is clearly a hot place. When we have the Highland Games in Kansas City, the girls competing have to wear their woolly outfits even if it's 90 out. I think it's really stupid. Another reason for kids to think that adults are basically crazy. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding From: Snuffy Date: 22 Apr 08 - 09:19 AM Thanks Jim. I found this. "For two years Tony's great and good friend was a sloe-eyed Chinese model named Jackie Chan (now playing a "yum-yum girl" prostitute in the London production of The World of Suzie Wong), and last year they holidayed together in Switzerland." |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding From: gnu Date: 22 Apr 08 - 05:18 AM Jim and Lindsay... good stuff! Here's one pronunciation. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding From: Jim McLean Date: 22 Apr 08 - 04:34 AM Snuffy, Suzie Wong was one of Tony Armstrong-Jones' paramours. There should be something via Google about her. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding From: Snuffy Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:44 PM Jim MacLean, Great version of Maggie's Wedding. Earlier today I was also looking at Scottish Breakaway, and see that both contain references to Suzie Wong. I must gave been around at the time, but the relevance of Suzie to Maggie and/or Tony has totally disappeared from my brain in the intervening years: could you refresh my memory, pretty please. |
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Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding From: Rowan Date: 20 Apr 08 - 10:26 PM George was very well informed with his comments following his Well, to answer about the long a sound but, leenia, the aphorism "when in Rome, do as the Romans" is worth remembering too. In Oz, the song's tune is about as "traditional" as possible, within the Oz context, and is frequently used for dances; the song is occasionally sung as well. I've never heard it pronounced here other than with the long "a" (as in Mah ree) and, while we have quite a few Scots (both real and wannabe pretenders) nobody would cooment about it being so pronounced. Of course, if one sang it in Garlic, eyebrows would be raised (discreetly) unless it was clear to everyone that the singer's ethnicity enabled such linguistic dexterity. Cheers, Rowan |
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