Editorial Reviews
Book Description
The Hebrides and Gaelic Highlands are one of the world's great treasure-houses of song. While many have plundered that legacy, from Marjory Kennedy Fraser onwards, most editions are either full of dubious emendation and alteration or are so scholarly as to be inaccessible except to specialists. This is the first collection of Gaelic song to address fully the needs of the singer and the needs of authenticity while remaining accessible to all. This collection combines the following features:
-- a general introduction to the Gaelic musical and poetic tradition -- reliable versions of the text and music for each song plus enough verses to make a viable performance -- full notes on the historical backgrounds of each song plus full references to other sources -- full notes on the technical aspects of the music and the song tradition -- full discography
Some of the songs in this collection date back to at least the fifteenth century but many of their elements reflect a culture far older still - a non-literate but far from ignorant society in which the arts were held in the highest reverence. It was through the highly trained memories of the bardic orders that knowledge was passed from one generation to another. To anyone interested in social history these songs paint a vivid picture of life among the Gaelic-speaking peoples, filling many of the gaps left by official histories and documents. These songs are a window into the lives of the people who composed and sang them - their hopes and fears, their jokes and preoccupations, what it was that made them angry or afraid. In their beauty and humanity they are amongst the jewels of western civilization.
About the Author
Anne Lorne Gillies is one of the best known figures in Scottish life today as a singer, songwriter, writer, educationalist, and political activist. Her musical career has spanned more than thirty years and crossed the world. She won a Mod Gold Medal when only seventeen and unusually combines a classical music training with a deep love and understanding of Gaelic culture. Her autobiography, Song of Myself, was published by Mainstream in 1993. She has also written many children's books.
Songs Of Gaelic Scotland,Anne Lorne Gillies,Birlinn Publishers,184158018X,Europe - Great Britain - General,General,Genres & Styles - International,Music/Songbooks,Religion,Songbooks
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