Category: Music

Seisean

By Simon

Bha seisean ann nam thaigh feasgar an-diugh, agus thàinig Steve agus Magnus. Sheinn Steve an fhìdheall, an dhuiseal agus an t-organ-beòil; sheinn Magnus an concertina, an giotàr agus a’ fhìdeag; agus sheinn mise a’ fhìdeag, a’ fhìdeag ìseal, an giotàr, ceithir recorder eadar-dhealaichte, am melodica, an t-organ-beòil agus am mandoilin. Is mhòr a’ còrdadh rium iomadh innealean-ciùil a sheinn, agus a bhith a’ atharrachadh eatorra.

Bhí seisiún ceoil ann i mo theach an tráthnóna seo, agus tháinig Steve agus Magnus. Sheinn Steve an fhidil, an fheadóg mhór agus an orgán béil; sheinn Magnus an consairtín, an giotár agus an fheadóg stáin; agus sheinn mise an fheadóg stáin, an fheadóg íseal, ceithre fliúit Shasanach éagsúla, an melodica, an orgán béil agus an maindilín. Is maith a bheith ag seinm a lán uirlis ceoil éagsúla, agus a bheith ag athrú eatarthu.

There was a music session in my house this afternoon, and Steve and Magnus came. Steve played the fiddle, flute and harmonica; Magnus played the concertina, guitar and whistle; and I played the high whistle, the low whistle, the guitar, four different recorders, the melodica, harmonica and mandolin. I really enjoy playing many different instruments and switching between them.

Spollagyn son tey

By Simon

An-dé chrìoch mi òran ùr agus rinn mi clàradh dheth. ‘S e òran dà-chànanach a th’ann anns a’ Mhanannais agus a’ Bheurla mu dhéidhinn faoileagan agus slisneagan, agus ‘s e “Spollagyn son tey / Chips for tea” an t-ainm a th’air. Seo an clàradh:

An-raoir thàinig cuideigin eile chun an cearcall còmhraidh iol-chainnteach air a’ chiad uair am mhìosan. ‘S i caileag a tha a’ fuireach faisg air Porthmadog a th’innte, agus tha a’ Bheurla, a’ Chuimris agus an Laitbheis aice. Bhruidhinn sinn anns a’ Bheurla agus a’ Chuimris mu dhéidihinn cànain, cànanachas, cànain a’ ionnsachadh, agus móran rudan eile.

Inné chríoch mé amhrán úr agus rinne mé taifeadadh de. Is amhrán dátheangach atá ann as an Mhanannais agus as Béarla faoi faoileáin agus sceallóga, agus an t-ainm atá air na “Spollagyn son tey / Chips for tea”.

Aréir tháinig duine eile chun an ciorcal comhrá ilteangach don chéad uair le tamall. Is cáilín atá ina conaí in aice le Porthmadog í, agus tá Béarla, Breatnais agus Laitvis aici. Labhair muid as Béarla agus Breatnais faoi teangacha, teangeolaíocht, teangacha a fhoghlaim, agus go leor rudaí eile.

Yesterday I finished a new song and recording it. It’s a macaronic song in Manx and English about seagulls and chips and is called “Spollagyn son tey / Chips for tea”.

Last night someone else came to the polyglot conversation group for the first time in ages. A lass who lives near Portmadog and who speaks English, Welsh and Latvian. We chatted in English and Welsh about languages, linguistics, language learning and many other things.

Spollagyn son tey

By Simon

Here’s a new song that I finally finished this week after fiddling with it for months. It’s a macaronic song in Manx (Gaelic) and English that I was inspired to write after seeing young herring gulls squawking away at their mothers. I wondered what they might be saying if they could speak, and this is what I came up with. On the short promenade near where I live many people eat chips from the nearby chip shop, and the seagulls will eat any leftovers.

This is the first song I’ve written in a language other than English.

Uisge

By Simon

Bha e ag uisge fad an latha an-dé, is tha an-t-uisge ann fhathast an-diugh, ach chan eil mi a’ dèanamh gearan ri sin. Chaidh Seaghan chun an Eisteddfod a’ mhadainn seo, is chaidh mise chun a’ còmhlain recorder (chan fhios agam a’ facal Gàidhlig air recorder). Bidh sinn a’ tighinn ri chéile dà uair ‘sa’ mhìos, is bidh sinn a’ seinn ceòl clasaigeach is ceòl traidiseanta na h-Éireann is na h-Alba.

Bhí báisteach ann an lá ar fad inné, agus tá báisteach ann inniu, ach níl mé ag gearan faoi sin. Chuaigh Seaghan chun an Eisteddfod an maidin seo, agus chuaigh mise chun grupa an fhliúit Shasanach. Bíonn muid ag teacht le chéile dhá uair gach mhí, agus bíonn muid ag seinn ceol clasaiceach agus ceol tíre as Éire agus as Alban.

It rained all day yesterday, and it’s still raining today, but I’m not complaining. Seaghan went to the Eisteddfod this morning, and I went to the recorder group. We meet a couple of times a month and play classical and folk music from Ireland and Scotland.

Tigh na Craoibhe

By Simon

Thàinig Seaghan, an Éireannach, feasgar an-dé, agus an déidh dìnnear chaidh sinn do chuirm-chiùil ag cafaidh Blue Sky. Sheinn seinneadair iondail air thùs, agus bha e go math, gu h-àraid air an giotàr. Ri a shàil sheinn còmhlan-ciùil House of Trees (Tigh na Craoibhe) ás an t-Suain, agus bha iad math dha-rìribh, gu h-àraid a’ seinneadair.

Bhruidhinn sinn ann an Gaeilge, gu beag-nithe, agus ann an Fraingis, agus ann an Cuimris.

Tháinig Seaghan, an Éireannach, tráthnóna inné, agus i ndiaidh dinnéar a fháil, chuaigh muid go ceol-chuirm ag an caife Blue Sky. Sheinn amhránaí áitiúla ar dtús, agus bhí sé go maith, go háirithe ar an ghiotár. Ansin sheinn banna ceoil as an tSualauin darb ainm House of Trees, agus bhí siad go hiontach, go háirithe an amhránaí.

Rinne muid comhrá as Gaeigle, go príomhe, agus as Fraincis agus as Breatnais.

Seaghan, the Irish guy, arrived yesterday evening, and after tea we went to a gig at the Blue Sky café. A local singer was on first and he was pretty good, especially his guitar playing. He was followed by a band from Sweden called House of Trees, who were excellent, especially the singer.

Còisir faoin

By Simon

Sheinn mi òrain anns an chòisir faoin an-raoir. ‘S i an chòisir faoin còmhlan caraidean a bhi a’ seinn òrain sunndach le chéile dà uair ‘sa’ mhìos, is bidh na seiseanan seo làn ri gàire cuideachd.

Tha Éireannach a tha a’ fuireach anns an Canada agus Gàidhlig na h-Éireann aige a’ tighinn gu Bangor an-diugh, is bidh e a’ fuireach rium anseo ri deannan làithean. Ansin bidh e a’ dol don Eisteddfod nàiseanta ann an Denbigh.

Cheol mé amhráin san chór amaideach aréír. ‘S é an cór amaideach grúpa cairde a bhionn ag ceol amhrán spraiúila le chéile dhá uair sa mhí, agus bionn na ócáidí seo lán le gáire chomh maith.

Tá Gaeilgeoir atá ina chónaí i gCeanada ag teacht go Bangor inhiu agus beidh sé ag fanacht liom anseo le cúpla lá. Ansin beidh sé ag dol chun an Eisteddfod náisiúnta i Denbigh.

I sang in the crazy choir last night. The crazy choir is a group of friends who get together to sing silly songs a couple of times a month, and we always have a good laugh.

There’s an Irish-speaking Irish coming to Bangor today, and he’s going to stay with me for a few days. Then he’s off to the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh.

Na Guirm

By Simon

An-raoir chaidh mi gu cuirme-ciùil ann an taigh-osda Fat Cat. Bha triùir seinneadairean ionadail a’ seinn, agus is aithne dhomh dithis aca. Sheinn a’ chiad aca a òrain fhéin, gu beag-nithe, agus sheinn an dara aca Na Guirm, agus bha barrachd atharrachadh eadar a òrain na a robh eadar òrain a’ chiad fhear. Bha iad math gu leòr, ach bha mi toilichte gu robh an chuirm saor an-asgaidh.

Bha uisge ann a-raoir, agus bha i neulach madainn an-diugh, ach tha i briagha feasgar an-diugh. Anochd bidh mi a’ bruidhinn Fraingis comhlà ri mo charaidean ann taigh-osda ri cois na mara.

Aréir chuaigh mé go ceolchoirm i dteach tabhairne an Fat Cat. Bhí triúir amhránaí áitiúila ag ceol, agus tá aithne agam ar beirt acu. Cheol an chead acu a amhráin fhéín, go príomha, agus cheol an dara acu na Gormacha, agus bhí níos mó difríochtaí idir eatarthu na a raibh idir amhráin an chead fhear. Bhí siad maith go leor, ach bhí mé sásta go raibh an ceolchoirm saor in aisce.

Chuir sé báistí aréír, agus bhí sé scamallach maidin inniu, ach tá sé go breá trathnóna inniu. Anocht beidh mé ag déanamh cómhra le mo chairde i dteach tabhairne cois fharraige.

Last night I went to a gig a the Fat Cat pub. Three local singers were performing, and I know two of them. The first one sang mostly his own songs, and the second sang the Blues, and there was more variation between his songs than between the first guy’s. They were not bad, but I was happy that it was a free event.

I rained this last night, and was cloudy this morning, but it’s fine this afternoon. Tonight I’ll be speaking French with some friends in a pub by the sea.

Báisteach

By Simon

Chuir sé báistí beagnach an lá ar fad inniu, ach níl mé ag déanamh gearán faoi sin – tá báisteach umainn i ndiaigh tamall fada gan í. Ní raibh ach mise agus Steve ag an seisiún i mo theach tráthnóna inniu. Sheinn Steve an fheadóg mhór agus an fhidil, mar is gnách, agus sheinn mise an fheadóg stáin, an fheadóg íseal, an melodica agus an maindilín. Bhí an fhidil agus an melodica an mhaith le chéíle, dar liom féín.

Amárach beidh mé ag tosú scríobh as Gaeilge na hAlban anseo, agus b’fhéidir beidh mé ag lean ar aghaidh Gaeilge na hÉirinn a scríobh chomh maith. Is é seo dóigh iontach chun feabhas a chur ar mo chuid teangacha.

It rained almost all day today, and I’m not complaining as we need rain after quite a while without it. Only Steve and I were at the session at my place this afternoon. Steve played the flute and fiddle, as usual, and I played the high and low whistles, the melodica and the mandolin. I thought that the fiddle and the melodica worked well together.

Tomorrow I will start writing in Scottish Gaelic here, and maybe I’ll continue writing in Irish as well. This is a good way to improve my languages.

Albain

By Simon

Bhí an ceolchoirm go maith aréir. Bhí buachaill amháin darb ainm Arwel Lloyd ag ceol as Breatnais agus ag seinm ar an ghiotár. Sheinn sé agus cheol sé go maith, ach bhí na hamhráin uilig an-chosúil le cheile domsa. Ní raibh a lán daoine ann, agus ba teaghlaigh agus cairde an amhránaí iad an chuid is mó de na lucht éisteachta. Inniu tá siad ag tosú ar thuras rothair timpeall an Bhreatain Bheag chun airgid a bhailiú le haghaidh Taighde ar Ailse.

Inniu d’obair mé ar maidin, mar is gnách, agus sa tráthnóna chuir mé seomra in áirithe in óstán sa Ghearasdan, agus cheannaigh mé ticéad traenach go Malaig – tá mé ag dul go dtí an t-Eilean Sgitheanach ag deireadh an mhí seo chugainn, agus ar an mbealach beidh mé ag fanacht oíche amháin sa Ghearasdan, mar ní féidir liom an turas ar fad a dhéanamh i gceann lá amháin.

The concert was good last night. One lad called Arwel Lloyd sang in Welsh and played the guitar. He played and sang well, but all the songs sounded very similar to me. There weren’t many people there, and the most of the audience were the singer’s family and friends. Today they are starting a cycling tour around Wales to raise money for Cancer Research.

Today I worked in the morning, as usual, and in the afternoon I booked a room in a bed & breakfast in Fort William, and bought a ticket to Mallaig – I am going to the Isle of Skye at the end of next month and will stay in Fort William for a night because it’s not possible to do the whole journey in a day.

Summer schools

By Simon

I had a wonderful time in Ireland last week, which is why I keep going back every summer. This year was my ninth visit to Oideas Gael and my seventh time at the summer school. Gleann Cholm Cille is beautiful, the people are great, and there’s a lovely, friendly, helpful, supportive atmosphere there. Everyone is happy to help one another with the Irish language, with music and with whatever else is needed. People from many different countries go there, so I have opportunities to use a variety of languages – this year I got to speak not just Irish and English, but also French, German and Japanese, and a bit of Czech and Portuguese.

With many local and visiting musicians, singers and dancers musical mayhem can break out anywhere at any time – in pubs, in restaurants and cafés, in car parks, and on the beach – I even played a few tunes on my low whistle at the bus stop while waiting for the bus on Saturday morning. I’ll certainly go back next year, and maybe will spend two weeks there, as there’s a harp week before the summer school, and I’ve wanted to learn the harp for a long time.

There are a few similar summer schools in Ireland and Scotland, and I’ve been looking for others in other countries. I know that some language schools offer combinations of language courses and cultural activities, like dancing, cooking, etc., but I haven’t found any like Oideas Gael. Do you know of, or have you been on, any similar ones? Are there any other places where spontaneous musical mayhem is likely?