Celtic music and the growth of the Feis movement in the Scottish highlands

Western Folklore, Fall 1998 by McKean, Thomas

7 In addition to being Dr. Lamont's chauffeur, Duncan Corbett was the village postman. Although most of his performing material was in Gaelic, one of his party pieces was MacAllister Dances Before the King and he would also sing songs such as The Garden Where the Praties Grow to the children at the Uig school year-end ceilidh (from conversations with lain MacLean (17.1.94) and Peigi Bennett (30.3.93)).

8This word seems to be based on "fim (p)adalachd", which as a noun means "grossness" or "boorishness" (Dwelly's Illustrated Gaelic to English Dictionary).

9 This spelling reflects Isabel's radical Trotternish (North Skye) pronunciation of 'as a dh6idh'.

10 For more background details of the people involved, and on Trotternish ceilidhs in general, see McKean 1997:101-2.

11Sadly, Murchadh died last year. He was an outstanding man, a fine piper and tradition bearer, with an unquenchable optimism for life. He is sorely missed.

12 i.e. the children's amusements are more important than the language or the music. Reported to me by Christina MacKenzie, Department of Celtic, University of Aberdeen (27.6.97).

13 Margaret Bennett, folklorist and feis tutor, reports very good results along these lines from the Gaelic-medium feisean where she has taught (telephone conversation, 25.6.97). Thanks also to Michael Newton for some of the observations which lead to this paragraph (letter 27.6.97).

14 Information from David Boag at the Fe is Rois office (26.6.97).

15 1 spoke to Val by telephone in October, 1996. For a very detailed survey of The Social Impact of Feisean, see Matarasso 1996.

16 This is the case with both Scots and Gaelic, for neither is taught, as a matter of course, in schools.

17 Andy made these and other remarks following a version of this paper I read at a conference in Edinburgh, "Reassessing National Song: Music and Identity in Scotland", 2.11.96.

Works Cited

Bennett, Margaret. 1989. The Last Stronghold. Edinburgh: Canongate. - (forthcoming). Oatmeal and the Catechism.

Edinburgh: John Donald.

Bergin, Osborn. 1970. Irish Bardic Poetry, ed. David Greene and Fergus Kelly. Dublin: The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

Bloomfield, Morton W. and Charles W. Dunn. 1989. The Role of the Poet in Early Societies. Cambridge and Wolfeboro: D.S. Brewer.

Budge, Domhnall (de.). 1971. Sar Orain le Catriona Dhughlas. Leeds: John Blackburn.

Byrne, Michel. 1988. Domhnall Ruadh Choruna and Domhnall Ruadh Choruna and Domhnall Ruadh Phdislig. Unpub. honors diss.: University of Edinburgh.

Campbell, John Lorne (ed.). 1990. Songs Remembered in Exile: Traditional Gaelic songs from Nova Scotia recorded in Cape Breton and Antigonish County in 1937 with an account of the causes of Hebridean Emigration, 1790-1835. With tunes mostly transcribed by Seamus Ennis. Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press.

Domhnallach, Domhnall [Donald MacDonald]. 1969. Domhnall Ruadh Charina: Orain is Ddin le Domhnall Domhnallach a Uibhist. Glaschu [Glasgow]: Gairm. Donaldson, Gordon. 1970. Scottish Historical Documents. New York and Edinburgh: