Mediaeval times
BY MURDOCH MACLEAN, KNOCKBREAK, WATBRNISH, SKYE
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BY MURDOCH MACLEAN, KNOCKBREAK, WATBRNISH, SKYE. * Captain MaoDonald's Estate, 'S mi 'n am shuidhe 'n am ònar 'G amharc mòralachd Bhatornish, Coill nan cnò ann's annsachach, Gu'm beadarrach 'bhi faisg ort, Mar sin's anbharra cùbhraidh 'Tighinn bho 'n tùr a tha taitneach, Is bòidhche sealladh 'n àm èirigh Ri latha grèine le 'bhrataich. Mu àm èirigh na grèine Maduinn chèitein chiùin earraùh, 'S ann leam a b'àille 'bhi gluasad Mu do bhruachagan fallain ; Bhiodh an uiseag's an smeòrach, 'S gach ian a's bòidhche's an ealtairn, A' seinn a chiùil a bhiodh pròiseil Na do eheòmraichean fasgach. Sìos gu bearradh nan Oan Aite s bòidhche do'n talamh, 'Nuair thig samhradh nan neòinean Bidh do chòmhdach mar shneachda; 'Nuair thig samhradh nan neòinean Bidh do chòmhdach mar shneachda : Cha'n'eil bean-bainnse's an t-saoghal Cho maiseach aogas ri d' leachdainn. 'S lìonmhor diùc is duin'-uasal Gu'm b'e 'luaidh a bhi faisg ort Le gunna 'bheòil chruadhach 'Direadh suas air do leachdainn; Le gunna 'bheoil chruadhach 'Dìt eadh suas air do leachdainn, Far'm faighte pheasant's an ruadh-bhoc Anns na cluaineagan fasgach. Dhe na shiubhail mi riamh Eadar Grianaig is Glascho, Dun-eideann nam bùthannan, Clach-na-cùdain is Farrais, Cha do phriob mi mo shùil Air àite's cùbhraidh ri fhaicinn Na na coilltearan uaine 'Tha mu chuairt air an aitreabh. Ged is ainmeil an t-àite Bràigh Bhàrr is Blàr Athol Agus Appain nam Meinearrach Taobh an iar Abbair Pheallaidh, Cha'n'eil sealladh cho àluinn 'S 'tha 'h an Fhàsach ri fhaicinn, 'S cha'n'eil sid dhomhsa 'n a annas Gach ni maiseach 'tha 'tàmh ann. 'S ann as a dh'fhalbh a' bhean-uasal 'Bha truasail ciùin bàigheil; Bu leatha beannachd nam bochda Fad a cuairt anns an fhàsach; Ach's ni cinnteach ri aithris Uu bheil i 'n diugh ann am Pàrras Air a gleidheadh gu mùirneach Anns a' chùirt's a bheil Abraham. Ach saoil nach mi 'bha gun aire 'Nuair a smaointich mi teannadh Ri moladh am Fàsaich, Aite a's àillidh air thalamh; Ged bhiodh Donnachadh Bàn Mac-an-t-Saoir Bàrd gun fhaoilt air an talamh, 'S gann gu'm moladh e 'n Gàidhlig Mar 'thoilleadh Fàsach 'n am ealadh. IAIN DOMHNULLACH (John MacDonald). In volume xxi. of the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of .Inverness there was a paper read on the 26th November, 1896, for Mr Neil MacLeod, Edinburgh, the bard of the Society, entitled, " Beagan Dhuilleag bho Sheann Bhàrdachd Eilean-a'cheò," in which he relates some poems by the old Skye bards. Amongst others there is a song of eleven verses by the subject of this brief sketch. John MacDonald, better known as " Iain Mac Dhomhnuill-'ic-Alasdair," a native of Uig, in the Isle of Skye, was born about 1797. He began life by enlisting in the 42nd Highlanders. His father, however, not approving of his continuing the life of a soldier, bought him out of the army, and he returned to his native glen at Uig. He afterwards spent twenty-eight years at the herring fishing, and generally spent the winters at home. He composed a good many poems and songs, most of which are now difficult to recover. He died in 1875, at the age of seventy-five years. The following are a few verses from one of his songs :— Dh' èirich mise maduinn chiùin 'S gu'n thog sinn siùil ri garbh-chroinn, Chunnacas dubhiadh mòr is dùdlachd, An dara taobh 'n uair dh' fhalbh sinn ; 'B gu'n shèid i bras le borb-thuinn chas, 'S ì tighinn a mach gu gailbheach ; 'S i ruith le sùgh air bhàrr gach stùchd, R i togail smùid na fairge, Bu mhath bhi 'n uair sin feadh na luachrach Shuas aig airidh Uige, Far'm bi na h-uain s na caoraich luaineach, Ruith mu'n cuairt gu siùbhlach ; Mi fhin's mo chruinneag ri mo ghualainn, 'S deamhais chruadhach dùint' aic', Gach fear's gille ruith mu'n cuairt 'S bhiodh Dòmhnull Ruadh le 'chù ann. Sud an gleann 'is bòidhche sealladh, Ann am maduinn reòta, Le caoraich gheala, dhubh, 'us ghlasa, Cuid dhiu tarr-fhionn, brògach; 'S bidh làir le'n searraich'm bun gach bealaich Suas ri srath nan lbintean : 'S a dh' aindeoin gaillionn no fuachd Earraich, Cha 'n iarr mart ann cradhadh. 'S iomadh caileag chuimir, ghuanach, Tha ann ri cuallach sprèidhe, Le cuman's buarach dol do'n bhuaile, 'S laoigh mu'n cuairt di 'geumnaich ; B'e' n cebl nach b' thuathach leam an duanag 'Na suidhe luadh air clèithe, Mi-fhin gu h-uallach's piob ri m' ghualainn 'Cluich nan nuallan èibhinn. 'S iomadh caileag bhòidheach chuimir, 'Bhios 'nan suidh aig cuibhle, Snìomh nan rMag, 'seinn nan luinneag, Bidh gach iorram bhinn ao'— An snàth 'is bòidhche falbh bho'm meòirean Cothrom, còmhnard, sìnte, 'S am falt 'na chuaich air cheil an cluais 'S e togta suas le cìrean. 'N uair bha mi òg mu'n d' rinn mi pòsadh Bha mi gòrach aotrom, Falbh gu spòrsail 'measg nan òighean, Sud an seòl 'bu chaomh leam ; 'S an tè bhiodh còir's a bheireadh pòg dhomh Shuidhinn stòlt' ri 'taobh-sa; 'S o' n tè nach fuilingeadh ball'n a còir dhiom, Gheibhinn dòrn mu'n aodann. 'N uair thig an geamhradh's àm nam bainnsean, Gheibh sinn dram no Toiseachd ; Bidh Nollaig chridheil aig cloinn-nighean 'S aig na gillean òga; Na mnathan fèin gu subhach, èibhinn, 'S iad a' gleusadh òran; 'S bidh dram aig bodaich anns an fhodar— Sogan orra 'còmhradh. There are other four verses in a similar strain. The song gives a faithful picture of peasant life in his day, and, upon the whole, is an indication of considerable talent. MACDONALD MUSICIANS. Intimately connected with the bards were the musicians, especially the harpists, and in later times, the bagpipers and violinists. The last of the Highland harpists was a clansman, viz., Murdoch MacDonald, harper to MacLean of Coll. He studied with Rory Dall, in the Island of Skye, and afterwards in Ireland, and remained with MacLean as a harper until 1734, after which he retired to Quinish in Mull, where he died. He is still spoken of as " Murchadh Clàrsair," and his son was distinguished as " Eoin Mac-Mhurchaidh Chlàrsair." The Rev. Patrick MacDonald, Kilmore, near Oban, was a famous violinist, and author of the first collection of the vocal airs of the Highlands, which was published in 1784, a work for which all true Highlanders will for ever feel grateful. This first great collector of Highland Music was born at the manse of Durness, in Sutherlandshire, on the 22nd of April, 1729, and died at Kilmore, Argyllshire, on the 25th September, 1824, at the great age of 95 years.* * JFor a biographical sketch ol the life of the Rev. Patrick MacDonald. see a paper by the author in the '.' Celtic Monthly" for April, 1898. It is not known whether he composed any poems or songs, but his essay on " the influence of poetry and music upon the Highlanders " is a very able and exhaustive one, exhibiting much research and learning, and he was unsurpassed in his day as a violinist. His daughter, Flora, was a poetess, but I have not been able to procure any of her poems. A generation ago a great deal more than we now know could have been collected about the Highlands, but the harvesters were few in number, consequently a great deal has been lost for ever. In Mr Baptie's " Musical Scotland," published in 1894, there are about twenty-five more or less famous musicians, some of whom were poets as well, the most famous of whom were the Rev. Patrick MacDonald already mentioned, and his brother, Joseph; Sir Alex. Lord MacDonald, born in 1743 ; John MacDonald, Dundee, author of " the Maids of Arrochar," nine famous minuets, and other pieces; Alexander MacDonald, born about 1770, author of " the notation of music simplified," &c.; Donald MacDonald, born about 1780, a son of John MacDonald of Skye, who had spoken to Prince Charlie, drew water from a spring for him, and killed trout for Dr. Johnson's breakfast, who knew the MacCrimmon hystem of articulate music, and lived to the age of 106. His son, Donald, was the author of the famous " Collection of the Ancient Martial Music of Scotland," 1831. Malcolm MacDonald, Dunkeld, 1750, author of four collections of reels, &c. ; and Hugh MacDonald, Glasgow, born in 1817, and died in 1860; he was an excellent poet, and is mentioned elsewhere ; and several others until we come down to the famous Sandy MacDonald, of Skye, who also composed some songs, as well as having been a splendid violinist of Scotch music. In order to complete my sketch of the MacDonald Bards and musicians this seems the most suitable place to mention some of the most famous MacDonald pibrochs. Giraldus Cambriensis, who died in 1225, mentions the bagpipe as a British instrument, and Major represents the Scots at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 as using tubae (tubes), Litui (clarions and cornets), and cornua (horns). MacKay also mentions that the piobaireachd known by the name of " Bealach nam Broaig," composed at that battle in 1229, is perhaps the oldest pibroch extant, though this species of music existed before then. In the Chapel of Roslyn there is the sculpture of a cherub playing on a bagpipe, with a book spread before it, showing that in an early age— a.d. 1446, the date in which the Chapel was erected by William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney—the bagpipes were played not by ear alone, but from some musical notation. The following are the most important MacDonald pibrochs:— Piobaireachd Dhomhnuill Duibh t—Black Donald Balloch of the Isles' War-tune, when preparing for the battle of Inverlochy, in 1427; and " Spaidsearachd Alastair Charaich," — Alastair Carrach's March. " Ceann na Drochait Mhòr," the head of the big bridge, was composed during the battle, 1431. It should be mentioned, however, that Donald Dubh, the Chief of the Camerons, was also present at the same battle on the side of the Royal forces, who were defeated. It was from this Donald Dubh that the Camerons derived their patronymic appellation of " Mac Dhonuill Duibh," or son of the Black Donald, t "Ceann na drochait bhig," the head of the little bridge, or Clan-gathering, composed at the battle fought by Montrose against the Campbells in 1645, when the MacDonalds were again victorious. "Làmh Dhearg Chlann Dòmhnuill."—The red hand in the MacDonald arms. "Fàilte Chlann Dòmhnuill," "The Mac-Donalds' Salute," by Donald Mòr Mac Crimmon. "Fàilte Chlann Raonuill," no "Failte Mhic Mhic Ailein,"—Cian Ronald's Salute. "Caismeachd a' Phiobaire da Mhaighstir," no "Piobaireachd Dhunnaomhaig," the pipers warning to his master, or Pìobaireachd of Duny-veg, 1646 or 1647. " Muirt Ghlinne-Comhann," the Massacre of Glencoe, on 13th February, 1692. " Fàilte Ridir Seumais nan Eilean "—Sir James MacDonald of the Isles' Salute, by William MacDonald of Vallay. t Logan's " Scottish Gael." t Brown's History of the Highlands, " Spaidsearachd Dhonuill Ghruamaich,"*— Donald Gniamach of Sleat's lament for the death of his elder brother. "Leannan Dhonuill Ghruamaich" (Grim Donald's sweetheart.) "A' Ghlas-Mheur,"—the finger-lock, on account of the intricacy of the grace notes rendering it more difficult to play than ordinary pibrochs, composed by Raonull Mac Ailein Oig, one of the MacDonalds of Morar. 13. "Cill Chriosda," — Glengarry's March, played by Glengarry's piper at the burning of the church of " Cill Chriosda," or Christ's Church- where a number of people had taken refuge—in revenge for the murder of Aonghas a Ghaoil,! of the Glengarry family, by the Culloden people. "Blàr Sròn" commemorates a desperate conflict between the MacDonellsof Glengarry, and MacKenzies, at a place so called in Western Ross. " Cumha na Piuthar,"—the sister's lament for the sons of Donald Glas XI. of Keppoch, who were murdered by the next in succession. " Fàilte Fir Bhoisdail,"—a salute to Alastair Mòr MacDonald, first of Boisdale, upon his taking possession of the estate. 17. " Cruinneachadh Chlann Raonuill,"—the gathering of the MacDonalds of Cian Ranald to the battle of Sheriffmuir, in 1715, where the chief was slain. Download 4.23 Mb. Share with your friends:
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