Once (almost a year ago) I mentioned how I took an interest in Gaelic (which I used to treat as a “Celtic”) culture and tradition both in Ireland and in Scotland and thus interest in both countries in general. Later this interest expanded on whole British isles, then it resulted in my archaeology passion.
The first and most important contact took place more than 20 years ago, during a deep economical crisis of the last years of communism in Poland. At that time, Polish television (then we had only two channels) broadcasted BBC TV series “Robin of Sherwood” with a brilliant soundtrack by Clannad.
Since that time I have been listening to Clannad music and I have been trying to learn as much about Ireland and Scotland (to be honest I used to be more interested in that country) as possible. In the late 80ties and early 90ties of 20th century I was gathering tapes illegally copied and sold in the music shops. The first Clannad albums on cassettes I bought or just obtained were “Legend”, “Magical Ring”, “Dulaman”, “Macalla” and “Atlantic Realm”.
They are still quite famous in Poland and commonly known due to the “Robin, the hooded man” - main theme of the Robin of Sherwood.
Broadcasting “Robin of Sherwood” and playing Clannad music in Polish radio in the mid 80ties took a massive impact on many open minded Poles. Since that time many Polish bands playing traditional Irish, Scottish , Welsh music have been founded and open minded people became interested in so called Celtic music and culture.
Thanks to Clannad I discovered a book of tales from magical world, and with every album I bought I was turning the pages of it. Thanks to Clannad I have fallen in love with Gaelic languages (Gaeilge and Socttish Gaelic), and during my many trips to Scotland (in the 90ties) especially its western and northern parts I had Clannad on my headphones almost all the time.
Of course, they had better and worse times and albums, and some traditional songs I prefer in versions performed by other bands, for example Alasdair MacColla (or Alasdair Mhic Colla) performed by Scottish band Capercaillie.
After more than 20 years I have my ticket for Friday’s Clannad concert in Dublin. I am looking forward to see them live for the very first time in my life.
bbc tv series celtic culture clannad clannad albums dulaman gaelic languages ireland Irish culture magical ring Music poland robin of sherwood robin the hooded man scotland
About 2 months ago, at the Dublin Airport I was browsing the CDs in the duty free music shop when my attention was drawn by a beautiful cover art sepia photo of the ocean rocky shore. At that moment, the title and the composer were unknown to me: Seán Ó Riada - Mise Éire.
It is an original Mise Éire film soundtrack played by Irish Radio Symphonic Orchestra (CEOLFHOIREANN SHIANSACH RADIO ÉIREANN). The film Mise Éire by George Morrison is a chronicle of Ireland between 1869 and 1918.
The booklet is full of historical photos of the leaders of Easter Rising - Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera and Pádraic Mac Piarais (Patrick Pearse) – a poet, the writer of the poem Mise Éire.
The poem Mise Éire is short but beautiful and sad as Irish history is. It is also nice exercise in translating from Gaeilge using my old dictionary.
I have found that poem in a two different dialect versions, and I don’t know which one is original and in which dialect it is.
Mise Éire (from CD album booklet)
Sine mé ioná an Chailleach Béarra.
Mór mo ghlóir:
Mé do rug Cú Chulainn cródha.
Mór mo náir:
Mo chlann féin do dhíol a máthair.
Mise Éire:
Uaignighe mé ioná an Chailleach Béarra.
Mise Éire (I have found in the net)
Mise Éire
Sine mé ná an Chailleach Béara
Mór mo ghlóir
Mé do rug Cúchulainn cróga
Mór mo náir’
Mo chlann féin do dhíol a máthair.
Mise Éire
Uaigní mé ná an Chailleach Béara
For the last 4 months almost every Thursday night I have been a guest of a nice traditional pub Carlovian. Of course it wasn’t only a nice room and furniture or a tasty Guinness or Bulmers (I like this cider very much), but a traditional Irish music session. I am not sure how it is called, but one of my Irish friends calls it The Jig.
Every Thursday a party of amateur or professional musicians together with audience also allowed to play or sing is gathering in this nice small pub and having fun. The tunes are brilliant and sound familiar to me, but the most impressing song I have heard so far was signed by a girl from audience. She sang it “a capella” (without support of any instrument) and it was song “Siul a run” that I know in a Clannad version.
As I wrote it before I have been listening to Irish and Scottish music for a very long time and what I can say is that Irish and Scottish traditional/Celtic music is very similar, or maybe Scottish music has a lot of Irish influences. Nevertheless I knew all the tunes and Celtic scales (if I can say something like that) that appeared during the sessions because I had listen to them in Scotland before I ever came to Ireland. Of course music is not 100% the same, but the difference is hard to describe. Again I will compare it to difference in taste of Irish and Scottish whiskies. I think that western parts of Scottland are much closer to Ireland, especially Western Isles – Outer Hebrides. Here is the difference. In Carlow I can listen to live traditional music on every Thursday, but in Scotland I did it only once, on Outer Hebrides. During my many visits in Scotland and time I spent there I couldn’t find a pub with a Celtic music sessions. In Ireland I can find them in almost every town I have visited so far.
I am still not familiar with Irish bands, except Clannad, Planxty or Chieftains. Next week in Carlow there is a Kila in concert, but unfortunately I will be in Poland at this time.
If you are interested how Scots play Celtic music I would recommend you some good bands (in my opinion of course): Capercillie and Wolfstone.
Here is some photos from one of the Thursday sessions at Carlovian:
Click to enlarge
Recent Comments