Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?

Subject: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From:
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 08:33 AM

Hello, A friend wants to perform a sea shanty in the Gaelic language and asked me to do some research. Can anyone provide me with music and lyrics or point me in the right direction? Many thanks, Michael Craig

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From: barrygeo
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 09:21 AM

How about Anach Cuan http://www.webcom.com/liam/gaelsong/tunes/anach.html Dont know how to do a clicky thing

Slan agus Beannacht

Barra MacEochagain

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From: GUEST,Michael Craig
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 11:14 AM

Thanks Barra, I'll check it out.

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From:
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 11:23 AM

Well, that was in Irish Gaelic. The Clicky thing for that link is

Anach Cuan

There are some songs like Leis an Lurgainn which is a song about a boat which is rhythmically usable to row to at the right pace.

I don't think I've typed that up, but someone else may have.

One of the problems is, WHAT KIND of SHANTY? Besides that of WHAT KIND OF GAELIC.

My orientation is to the Scottish Gaelic, so if you are looking for Irish, I can't help. Will look into other songs which are Rowing type songs.

Another problem in a different light, is that most of the Gaelic countries were not major sea-faring lands at the hey-day of the Shanty (thought to be in the 18th century). Therefore there probably aren't many shanty type songs of the Capstan or Halyard varieties. However, for the "Fore-castle" - Fo'c'sle" type of story songs, you could probably sing many of the lonesome type songs. More of a ballad type, like Chi Mi Na Mor-bheana, would be used for that.

So, let's see

1 - What kind of Shanty? - Rowing, Capstan, Fo'c'sle, etc?
2- Which Gaelic? - Irish? Scottish? Manx?, etc?

See if your friend has any preferences, and maybe we can give more information.

Meanwhile I'll see if some of my Gaelic friends and Shanty friends can give me more suggestions to pass on.

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From:
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 11:25 AM

Oh yeah, how soon does he/she need this?

Subject: Lyr Add: (A MHIC IARLA NAM) BRATACH BANA
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 05:19 PM

I can't imagine Anach Cuain ever having been used as a shanty!  These are, as a rule, worksongs used at sea, not songs that just happen to mention it.  As George says,There are unlikely to be any mainstream chanteys in Gaelic, but there was a tradition of Rowing Songs in the Hebrides, which is probably what your friend should be looking at.  Many of these were also used as Waulking songs, and a fairly well-known example which might be suitable is:

(A MHIC IARLA NAM) BRATACH BANA

(The Son of the Earl of the White Banners)

As sung by Calum Johnston of Barra, and recorded by the School of Scottish Studies.

'Ic Iarla nam Bratach Bàna
'Ic Iarla nam Bratach Bàna
'Ic Iarla nam Bratach Bàna
Chunna' mi do long air sàile
(I saw your longship on the sea)
Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro
Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro
Hù hoireann ó hu ó éileadh

Chunna' mi do long air sàile
Chunna' mi do long air sàile
Chunna' mi do long air sàile
Bha stiùir òir 's dà chrann airgid
(There was a helm of gold on her, and two silver masts)
Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro
Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro
Hù hoireann ó hu ó éileadh

Subsequent verses follow the same pattern:

Bha stiùir òir 's da chrann airgid
'S cupaill de shìoda na Gaillmhinn
(And shrouds of Galway silk)

'S cupaill de shìoda na Gaillmhinn
Sìoda reamhar ruadh na Spàinne
(Rich red silk from Spain)

Sìoda reamhar ruadh na Spàinne
Cha b'ann an Glaschu a bha e
(It was not in Glasgow that it was [seen])

Cha b'ann an Glaschu a bha e
No 'n Dùn-Bheagan, 's beag o'n làr e
(Nor in Dunvegan, small and lowly)

No 'n Dùn-Bheagan, 's beag o'n làr e
No 'n Dùn-Tuilm nam bratach bàna!
(Nor in Duntulm of the white banners!)

The melody may be found in a number of formats at  JC's Tunefinder.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From:
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 05:26 PM

Malcolm, yes, that is a good one. It's a song about this son, whose father is the Earl of the White Banners. The first line, when translated is "Son of the Earl of the White Banner

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 07:33 AM

I concur with Malcolm; Anach Cuan is a lament, no shanty.
How about "Dheanainn Sugradh Ris a' Nighean Dubh", similar background to that of am Bratach Bana (sailing cum waulking song)

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From: GUEST,Michael Craig
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 11:16 AM

Many thanks to you all, Barra, George, Philippa and Malcolm. I'll pass on your various tips to my friend, and will be back if I get any more specific instructions. I had a feeling all along that there might be a good reason why it's so hard to find shanties in Gaelic. Just like I imagine there are very few authentic reggae songs in Icelandic! If people aren't going to sea in large numbers, they're unlikely to sig shanties!

Subject: RE: Music/lyrics of a sea-shanty in Gaelic?
From: p.j.
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 02:44 PM

Last night I asked my buddy Shay Black (wonderful Irish singer) this question. I thought I had heard him do a Gaelic Shanty in concert recently, but he concurred with the advice that you're getting here, there really aren't any Irish Gaelic Shanties to speak of. He suggested you might be able to adapt a rowing song, though.

Best of luck PJ