Lyr Add: A' Ghrian (Gaelic)

Subject: Lyr Add: A' Ghrian (Gaelic,
From: Felipa
Date: 22 Nov 20 - 12:03 PM

tune by Shaun Davey, words collected in Barra, Western Isles, Scotland and first published in Carmina Gadelica circa 1900.
The lyrics seem to be a fusion of an older sun-worshipping tradition with Christianity.

recorded on the Shaun Davey album "The Pilgrim" with singer Rita Connolly and on Kathleen Mac Innes cd "Cille Bhríde" KMAC00. You can also find recordings of performances by Kathleen Mac Innes and by Rita Connolly on youtube.

A' GHRIAN

Fàilte ort féin, a ghrian nan tràth,                            
'S tu siubhal àrd nan speur,
Do cheumaibh treun air sgèith nan àrd, . 
'S tu màthair àigh nan reul.

Thu laighe sios an cuan na dìth, 
Gun dìobhail is gun sgath, 
Thu 'g éirigh suas air stuagh na sìth, 
Mar rioghainn òg fo bhlàth.                                                    
                                                                              
Tha mise an dòchas 'na thràth, ,
Nach cuir Dia mòr nan àgh, 
As domhsa solas nan gràs 
Mar tha thusa dha m'fhàgail a-nochd.

singable translation to Irish Gaelic by Risteard Mac Gabhann:
AN GHRIAN

Fáilte romhat, a ghrian na ráithí, 
's tú ag siúl in ard na spéire, 
Do chéim go tréan ar sciath na n-ard,
Is tú máthair ard na réalt. 

Tú 'do luí i gcuan na díth’,
Gan díobháil is gan scáth,,
Tú ag éirí suas ar stua na síth’,
Mar ríon óg faoi bhláth.                                                   
                                                                              
Mise ag súil in am tráth,
Nach gcuirfidh Dia mór na ndúl,
As domsa solas na ngrás
Mar 'tá tusa dom’ fhágáil anocht.

translation to English (by ___?)
THE SUN

Hail to thee, thou sun of the seasons,                           
As you stride the heights of the sky,  
Stepping firm on heaven's wing,
You are the noble mother of the stars.

Lying low in the harmful ocean,
Unharmed and without fear,
Rising again on the arch of peace, 
Like a queen in the bloom of youth.                                                   
                                                                              
I hope that in the course of time
That the great and gracious God,
Will not extinguish for me the light of graces,
Just as you are leaving me this night.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A' Ghrian (Gaelic)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Nov 20 - 08:24 PM

Failte ort fhèin, a grian nan tràth,
`S tu siubhal àrd nan speur,
Do cheumaibh treun air sgèith nan àrd,
`S tu màthair àigh nan reul.

Thu laighe sìos an cuan na dìth,
Gun diobhail is gun sgàth:
Thu'g èirigh suas air stuagh na sìth,
Mar rìoghainn òg for blàith.

Tha mise an dòchas `na thràth
Nach cuir Dìa mòr nan àgh
As dhomhsa sòlas nan gràs
Mar tha thusa dha m' fhagail a-nochd.

Kathleen MacInnes

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A' Ghrian (Gaelic)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Nov 20 - 08:25 PM

https://www.facebook.com/soulfiresisterhood/posts/1345587978931943/

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A' Ghrian (Gaelic)
From: Felipa
Date: 17 Dec 21 - 10:56 AM

a' Ghrian was collected in the Isle of Barra, Scotland in the 19th century, but it is likely the song is of considerably older origin. https://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/carminagadelicah01carm.pdf

https://digital.nls.uk/early-gaelic-book-collections/archive/78430800 pages 340-341

The translation , I suppose by either Andrew or Alexander Carmichael, as published in Carmina Gadelica is

THE SUN From John MacNeill, cottar, Buaile nam Bodach, Barra

Hail to thee, thou sun of the seasons,
As thou traversest the skies aloft;
Thy steps are strong on the wing of the heavens,
Thou art the glorious mother of the stars.
Thou liest down in the destructive ocean
Without impairment and without fear;
Thou risest up on the peaceful wave-crest
Like a queenly maiden in bloom.

------
Shaun Daveys "The Pilgrim" suite was commissioned on 1983 for the Celtic festival at L'Orient, Britamny. For a subsequent performance in Glasgow "He introduced the concept of a journey by St. Colum Cille through the Celtic countries" (Wikipedia). So the closing song, A' Ghrian, is also connected with this year's Colm Cille 1500 commemoration of the saint's birth.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A' Ghrian (Gaelic)
From: GUEST,ottery
Date: 17 Dec 21 - 01:02 PM

How beautiful. I've got this on Kathleen MacInnes's album, but I didn't know anything about the lyrics till now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A' Ghrian (Gaelic)
From: Felipa
Date: 23 Dec 21 - 05:38 PM

This verse published in volume 2 of A. Carmichael, Carmina Gadelica could be a companion piece. The accent marks are lacking; maybe I will revise the transcription later on.
https://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/carminagadelicah02carm.pdf p.166 (186 of the pdf)

DIA NA GILE

DiA na gile, Dia na greine,
Dia na cruinne, Dia nan reulta,
Dia nan dile, tir, is neamha,
Dh' orduich dhuinne Righ na feile.

'S i Moire mhin chaidh air a glun,
'S e Ri nan dul a chaidh na h-uchd,
Chaidh durch is diuir a chur air chul,
'S chaidh reul an iuil an aird gu much.

Dh' fhoillsich fearann, dh' fhoillsich fonn,
Dh' fhoillsich doltrom agus struth,
Leagadh bron is thogadh fonn,
Chaidh ceol air bonn le clar is cruth.

translation
GOD OF THE MOON

God of the moon, God of the sun,
God of the globe, God of the stars,
God of the waters, the land, and the skies,
W^ho ordained to us the King of promise.

It was Marv fair who went upon her knee,
It was the King of life who went upon her lap,
Darkness and tears were set behind,
And the star of guidance went up early.

Illumed the land, illumed the world,
Illumed doldrum and current.
Grief was laid and joy was raised.
Music was set up with harp and pedal-harp.