Tìr Ìseal Music
Original music inspired by the Tìr Ìseal nan Òran project stories.
The Emigrants’ Stone
written and performed by Angus Macphail
A’ Chlach Mhòr air an Druim Bhuidhe
La-eigin nuair tha mionaid agad, gabh an rathad gu deas suas an Druim Bhuidhe agus chi thu cnap mòr cloiche mu dha cheud troigh taobh a-staigh crìoch Chornaig Mhor. Nan robh comas labhairt aig a’ chloich seo, se dh’innseadh i dhuit nach eil i na suidhe san làrach far an deach a’ fàgail ri Linn na Deigheannaich, ach gun deach a gluasad as an làraich sin air latha sònraichte san naoimheadh linn deug.
Ach their thusa, “Tiamar?” ’s “Carson?”
Seo mar a thachair.
Aig an àm seo, bha fìor bhochdainn ann an Eilean Thiriodh, gu sònraichte a-measg nan daoine aig nach robh fearann. Bha teaghlaichean mòra pailt agus bha an t-aran gann. Thàinig Bliadhna an Fhuadaich Mhòir, 1877, agus bha gnothaichean cho dona ’s gun robh an t-uachdaran, Deòrsa Caimbeul, Mac Cailein Mòr, Diùc Earra-Ghàidheal a’ toirt airgead-dìolaidh do chuid mar phàirt den fharadh airson falbh thar sàil do dhùthaich fhosgailte Chanada.
B’ iad Iain Mòr Màiri Lachainn agus Dòmhnall Mòr mac Alasdair ’ic Dhùghail dithis dhiubh seo. An latha mun robh iad deas gu fàgail, thog iad orra do Thaigh an Eilein a phaigheadh am mal mu dheireadh agus a thogail an cuid airgid. Air dhaibh am Bàillidh MacDhiarmaid fhaicinn agus an t-airgead nam pòca, rinn iad an t-slighe dhachaigh a-null an Druim Bhuidhe.
“Tha sinn a’ fàgail a-màireach,” arsa fear dhiubh, “agus cò tha dol a thoirt iomradh oirnn as-dèidh dhuinn falbh? Thèid sinn as an t-sealladh agus cha bhi cumhn’ aig duine beò oirnn. Ma tha teaghlach a’ dol a bhi againn ’s e Canaidianaich a bhios annta. Cha bhi fios no foir oirnn san dùthaich againn fhìn.”
“Ach gu dearbh bithidh!” ars’ Iain Mòr Màiri Lachainn. “Eil thu faicinn na cloiche sin mu d’ choinneamh? An te mhòr sin thall? Ma thèid agam fhìn ’s agad fhèin car a chuir dhith, bidh iad a’ toirt iomradh oirnn gu Latha Bhreitheanais!”
Agus ’s ann mar sin a thachair.
Thug an dithis ud tulgadh air a’ chloich gus an do chuir iad car dhith, agus chi sibh gus an là ’n-diugh nach eil i san làrach sam bu chòir. Tha sinn san t-aonamh linn fichead a-nis agus tha cuimhne fhathast air neart is spionnadh an dithis ghaisgeach, Iain Mòr Màiri Lachainn agus Dòmhnall Mòr mac Alasdair ’ic Dhùghail.
Blàr nan Sguab (The Battle of the Sheaves)
by Seonaidh MacIntyre, performed by Seonaidh MacIntyre, Ian Smith and Allan J Nairn
Puirt le Seonaidh Mac an t-Saoir, air an cluich le Seonaidh Mac an t-Saoir, Ian Mac a’ Ghobhainn agus Allan J Nairn
Based on the story of the Vikings coming to Tiree.
Bha mi airson dubh-choimeasg blàir a riochdachadh leis a’ ruidhle seo, a tha ag innse mu bhlàr a chaidh a shabaid le sguaban coirce eadar na Lochlannaich agus na Fianntaichean is Fionn os an cionn, a bha na leth Lochlannach e fhèin. Chaidh na Lochlannaich a ruaigeadh às an eilean is cha do thill iad gu bràth tuilleadh. Cluinnear fhathast an t-abairt seo aig daoine às an eilean: “Sguab choirce gu crios ann an crios Lochlannaich”.
The Greenhill Mermaid
by Ian Smith, performed by Ian Smith, Seonaidh MacIntyre and Allan J Nairn.
Ian had stumbled upon a record of Colin MacNiven’s account of the mermaid he had found at Greenhill in the 18th Century on An Iodhlann’s website many years ago. There are many mermaid tales told on Tiree and, when he was younger, Ian’s grandfather used to tell him of a mermaid that was found in Balephuil years before. Nowadays, many people would be skeptical about a mermaid-like creature washing ashore but Mr MacNiven provided a sworn statement of the discovery in court and the skeleton of the creature was shown to the magistrate, James Maxwell and his son Dr Neil Maxwell.
‘The Greenhill Mermaid’ has a somewhat seafaring feel about it. The tune is a rather challenging hornpipe (a dance often associated with sailors, suiting the mermaid theme) and Ian has kept it to three parts, rather than four (most traditional tunes are usually two or four parts, or in some cases even six, but very rarely is a tune written with three parts). Like the mermaid discovered in Greenhill, the three parts help to make this piece unusual and different from any other tunes like it.
‘S e athair Julian Noble a bh’ ann an Cailean MacNaomhain, a lorg a’ mhaighdeann-mhara ann an Grianail. B’ ise cuspair an òrain aig Iain MacIllEathain (Iain mac Ailein neo Bàrd Thighearna Cholla mar a bh’ aca air), Marbhrann do Mhrs Noble, aon de na pìosan bàrdachd as brèagha a chaidh a sgrìobhadh ann an Gàidhlig.
Chaidh am pìos a sgrìobhadh mar gum b’ e an duin’ aic’, Dr. Noble, a sgrìobh e às dèidh dhi bàsachadh ann an 1843.
M' Ailm air Eilean Thiriodh (My Helm on Course for Tiree)
by Seonaidh MacIntyre, performed by Seonaidh MacIntyre, Ian Smith and Allan J Nairn
Puirt le Seonaidh Mac an t-Saoir, air an cluich le Seonaidh Mac an t-Saoir, Ian Mac a’ Ghobhainn agus Allan J Nairn
This began as a tune also based on the Vikings coming to Tiree but upon looking at James Turnbull's Map of Tiree, I decided to make it a general introduction to Tiree based off the two, I thought a 2/4 March suited it. It also goes well with "Blàr nan Sguab" - both have a similar structure to keep to a theme.
Ged a thòisich seo mar phort eile mu na Lochlannaich ann an Tiriodh, choimhead mi ri mapa Sheumas Turnbull bho 1768 airson beagan brosnachaidh agus mheòraich mi an uair sin air cò ris a bhiodh an t-eilean coltach aig an àm sin seach Linn nan Lochlannach. A’ feuchainn ri chumail air an aon chuspair de bhith a’ nochdadh ann an Tiriodh airson a’ chiad uair, tha am port seo agus Blàr nan Sguab coltach ri chèile ann an structar. Ach, chleachd mi caismeachd 2/4 an àite ruidhle don phort seo gus linn eadar-dhealaichte ann an eachdraidh Thiriodh a riochdachadh.
Hugh MacArthur of Balephuil
by Ian Smith, performed by Ian Smith, Seonaidh MacIntyre and Allan J Nairn.
Ian has conducted a lot of research into Fuadach Bhail’ a’ Phuill over the years as his family home is just above Am Port Mòr where many of the boats set out from on that fateful day. For years Ian himself set out on many fishing trips from that very inlet.
While carrying out research, Ian had listened to James MacDonald (Seumas na Cròige) from West Hynish telling of Hugh MacArthur (Eòghann Seòladair) on Tobar an Dualchais. He said that MacArthur had ensured the survival of many of the men on the day of Am Fuadach, taking the helm of Farquhar MacDonald's boat, rescuing the crew of four of the other boats and steering them to Islay. Hector Cameron tells a different story in Na Bàird Thirisdeach: that Donnchadh Bàn’s boat made it independently, along with Farquhar's boat to Islay. Donald Sinclair (Dòmhnall Chaluim Bàn) also tells a story which concurs with Na Bàird Thirisdeach, regarding an old navy man that was aboard Donnchadh Bàn's boat. The navy man mentioned could possibly be MacArthur who, according to Sinclair, told the crew to bail out water while he steered the boat to Islay using just an oar in the place of the rudder. Whether they made Islay in Farquhar's boat or whether both Donnchadh Bàn and Farquhar's boats reached Islay independently, they were cared for in Islay by the granddaughter of a previous factor in Tiree who provided them with excellent hospitality until the weather abated and they were able to return to Tiree.
Ian believes one of the finest compliments in Highland culture is to have a 2/4 March named in your honour and that the efforts of Hugh MacArthur on that day deserve recognition. Ian dedicates this tune to his memory and to his efforts on the 7th July 1856.
Bha Eòghann Seòladair cuideachd aithinichte mar Eòghann Òg, ach bha e nas aithnichte mar Eoghann Seòladair ann am Bail’ a’ Phuill. Thuirt Seumas na Cròige gun deach bàta air an robh Eòghann ag obair fodha anns na h-Innseachan an Iar, agus gum b’ esan an aon duine a thàinig às le a bheatha.
’S ann ann an leabhar aig Eòghann a chaidh am pìos bàrdachd, Tha Mi Fo Chùraim, a lorg – pìos a sgrìobh Alasdair Mòr Dòmhnallach mu dheidhinn Am Fuadach. Tha na tha air fhàgail dhen phìos bàrdachd sin anns a’ chruinneachadh, Na Bàird Thirisdeach, a sgrìobh An t-Urr. Eachann Camshron.
Bha nighean aig Eòghann, Màiri Eòghainn Sheòladair, agus bha ise pòsda aig Alasdair Brùn, athair Eòghann Brùn agus seanair do dh’Alasdair nach maireann, Eachann nach maireann, Dòmhnall nach maireann, Dòmhnall Eardsidh nach maireann, Sìne NicPhàil agus Ina NicArtair.
A' Fàgail Muirdat
by Ian Smith, performed by Ian Smith, Seonaidh MacIntyre and Allan J Nairn.
The story of the sandblown villages behind Hough was one that Ian was familiar with. Although it is a very remote location, it is a beautiful part of the island and one of his favourite places in Tiree. When writing this piece, Ian attempted to put himself in the position of those who had to leave their villages. Although Tiree is a small island, having to leave your home and set-up elsewhere on the island, at a time when it was much harder to travel, must have been very difficult.
Although named A’ Fàgail Muirdat [Leaving Muirdat], this piece is dedicated to all of the townships behind Hough and their inhabitants who had to leave their homes and start afresh elsewhere. Although it is a slow, emotional piece, it has a positive outlook, as those who were forced to leave would have had when they relocated elsewhere on the island.
Mallachdaig is Naomhag
by Seonaidh MacIntyre, performed by Seonaidh MacIntyre, Ian Smith and Allan J Nairn
Puirt le Seonaidh Mac an t-Saoir, air an cluich le Seonaidh Mac an t-Saoir, Ian Mac a’ Ghobhainn agus Allan J Nairn
Based on the story of St. Columba coming to Tiree, the contrasting parts in the tune represent each rock.
Fhuair am port seo ainm bhon dà sgeir don tug Calum Cille ainm ann an Tiriodh nuair a nochd e ann airson a’ chiad uair. Cheangail e a churrach ri sgeir ach bhrist an ceangal eadar na dhà agus chuir e mallachd air an sgeir gus nach fhàsadh feamainn air gu bràth tuilleadh, is thug e Mallachdaig oirre mar ainm. Sheòl e gu taobh thall a’ bhàigh agus lorg e sgeir eile a chùm greim stòlda air a’ churrach aige. Bheannaich e an sgeir seo is thug e Naomhag oirre mar ainm. Bha mi airson an dà sgeir a riochdachadh an seo le dà phàirt sa phort.
A’ Bhean-ghlùin (The Midwife)
by Angus MacPhail and Flora MacPhail
Tha an duan seo air a stèidheachadh air naidheachd mu chàraid a bha a’ fuireachd ann am baile beag cùlaibh beinne anns nach fhaicear an-diugh ach corra chlach air fhàgail bho na tobhtaichean - àite glè uaignidh. Aon oidhche oillteil gheamhraidh sam pàiste air an robh fiughair gu bhith air a bhreith, dh’fhalbh fear-an-taighe air tòir bean-ghlùine na cuideachd is e a’ feum na mnatha fhàgail gun chreutair beò cò’ rithe ach an cù. A dh’aindheoin gach oidhearp cha d’ fhuair e duine a-staigh ann an taigh na mna-ghlùine.
Ach gun fhios no gun iarraidh fad’s a bha esan air a thuras, thàinig am boireannach coimheach a bha seo gun tè a bha na h-èiginn, rinn i mar a dh’ fheumar airson cobhair a dheanamh air am màthair is rugadh am pàiste gu sàbhailte. Dh’fhàg i mar a thàinig i, gu sàmhach, sìtheil agus chan fhacair sgeul oirre tuilleadh.
Nuair a thill fear-an-taigh bha a h-uile ni mar bu chòir ach cha d’fhuair duine sam bith riamh a-mach cò an tè a thàinig do Bhail’ Uthaig an oidhche gheamhraidh fhiadhaich sin.
Translation
This song is based on a story about a couple who lived in a small isolated township at the back of a hill. Today, all that remains are some stones from the ruins. One wild winter’s night with the birth of their expected child imminent, the husband went in search of the local midwife having to leave his wife alone with the dog. Despite his efforts, there was nobody in the house of the mid-wife.
Meanwhile as he was out on his quest, a strange woman came to his wife on childbed, carried out the necessary tasks to help her and the child was born safely. She left as she had arrived, quietly and peacefully and was never seen again.
When the husband returned everything was as it should be but never did anybody trace the stranger who had come to Bail’ Uthaig on that wild winter’s night.