GAELTALK: Scottish Gaelic News
By MAUREEN LYON
VANCOUVER - Scottish Gaelic events for the fall are listed below:
December 1
Ceilidh at the Scottish Cultural Centre located at 8886 Hudson Street, featuring the Vancouver Gaelic Choir; Wilma Paton - soprano; The Tam O' Shanter Dancers; Ceilidh dancing will follow.
There will be no ceilidh in January.
February 2008
Ceilidh at the Scottish Cultural Centre (Main Hall)
The Vancouver Gaelic Choir is seeking new members, particularly in the tenor and bass sections. Choir meets Tuesday evenings 7:30 to 10 PM at the Scottish Cultural Centre. For information, call (604) 433-3326 or (604) 251-6344.
The Music
Work songs have played a large role in Gaelic culture through the centuries.
Their purpose was to lighten the load of the physical labour that was so much part of the Highland lifestyle.
Rhythms were strong and suited to the action, while lyrics could be appropriate to the action or they could describe amusing happenings of the neighbourhood, or they could target local personalities satirically.
There were rowing songs, waulking songs, weaving songs, churning songs, milking songs, reaping songs, and of course, lullabies.
The custom of waulking or shrinking the home-made tweed was still being practised in parts of the Highlands until the 1930s.
Groups gathered in one house or barn, set up a long table or board and sat together beating the moistened tweed until they were satisfied that its texture was suitable for sewing into garments.
These tedious chores initiated many beautiful tunes and lyrics which have survived to the present day. Below is an example of a reaping song, sung to the timing of a sickle in motion.
Buain a' Choirce
The Language
Pronounciation hint:
L or LL sound is similar to the L sound in the English word "although."
LB a day (u)llah Abair la breagha! Say what a lovely day! Abirh lla breeah
LBmh a hand (u)llav Thoir dhomh do lBmh. Give me your hand. Hawrh ghoh do llav.
LBn full (u)llan Tha mo chupa lBn. My cup is full. Ha mo choopuh llan
Falamh empty falliv Tha do sporran falamh. Your purse is empty. Ha daw sporran falliv
The grave accent on Gaelic vowels stresses and lengthens the vowel.
BBta bBtuh a boat
br awhrr gold
sXth sheeh peace
jr oohrr new
Tha bBta air a' mhuir There is a boat on the sea. a baattuh errh uh voorrh.
Tha sXth air an eilean There is peace on the island. Ha sheeh errh in aylan.
Tha cbta jr air Mairi. Mary is wearing a new coat. Ha cawttuh oorrh errh Mairi.
For Gaelic lessons, call Maureen Lyon at (604) 536-1367 or John MacLeod at (604) 432-9216.
Seanfhacal - A Proverb
Is binn gach eun 'na dhoire fhein. Sweet sings each bird in his own grove.
Did you Know?
• The Old Course at St. Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world.
• Johnny Walker Red Label is the world's largest selling whisky brand.
• St. Andrew's Day is on November 30 and is Scotland's National Holiday. St. Andrew was one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus. It is believed that St. Andrew died on a diagonally shaped cross. The Saltire or St. Andrew's Flag is said to be the oldest of any country dating back to the Twelfth Century. The blue of the flag represents the sky.
Gum a fada beb sibh is ceb as ur taigh.
May you live long and smoke emerging from your house.
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