Puirt a Beul (mouth music) - Karen Matheson with Donald Shaw

[sonnenstrahl573]

This is the most fun video on youtube. Seriously.

[NorthLimitation]

Anyone have any idea what the tune between Cha Téid Fionnlagh A dh'Eige and Cairistiona Nighean Eoghainn is? 

[SPAREPARTSCENTRE]

I'm Irish and have to say that I haven't seen this in Ireland - so I'm thinking that this is of recent Scottish origin (by recent i MEAN a couple of hundred years (stand to be corrected) - s usual Karen is a force of nature

[seonidh]

@SPAREPARTSCENTRE yes the fast style is from the 18th century when the British government banned musical instruments to stop rebellion and people improvised.

[SPAREPARTSCENTRE]

@seonidh - A policy used in Ireland aswell - but they banned Gaeilge or Gaelic long before that here. I recently was visiting an ancient burial ground at the moons equinox very early in the morning recently and happened upon (to my surprise) an alter that was used in penal times to say mass - made me quiver (and very proud) to be of the saddened peoples (Celtic Nations) ... might sound a bit corny but I have a few drams within

[seonidh]

@SPAREPARTSCENTRE its sad that the British government tried so much to divide the gael in scotland and ireland be it through politics, religion, loyalty and opression. Even the famines of Ireland and the Highland famines of the same time and Highland clearences in scotland did not destroy our cultures. In fact I would say its practically the same culture thats just slightly changed over a short time period (say 300 years) into the modern style of nationhood and celtic national symbols. ;-)

[murbuzz]

this is ace. :)

[abecualann]

And James Mackintosh on drums.

[Testosystem]

fuck. I don't like that blues background

[bodhranireb]

Actually it's Russ Barenberg on guitar and Tim O'Brien is playing a bouzouki that he had designed in the shape of a guitar.

[bodhranireb]

Actually it's Russ Barenberg on guitar and Tim O'Brien is playing a bouzouki that he had designed in the shape of a guitar.

[bodhranireb]

Actually it's Russ Barenberg on guitar and Tim O'Brien is playing a bouzouki that he had designed in the shape of a gutar.

[Pomepwns]

wow. i've really never heard Puirt a Beul sung like this. it's nice, if different. i still think that julie fowlis's version, on cuilidh is better, though.

[wilsonjg00]

Saw her sing this earlier today on BBC Alba loved it so good

[MikmaqWoman1]

fantastic....i am a singer as well...but i wont attempt this one yet...too fast..lol admirable she can do it so well

[billcody27]

QMooglepower:

Video is part of the so called "transatlantic sessions vol. 3". Recorded in 2007 at Strathgarry House, a small hotel in Killiecranckie in Perthshire, Scottish Highlands. The musicians are from Scotland, Ireland and USA.

This is a BBC TV series from BBC 4 (?).

I ´m searching for the older volumes. Great stuff here, the best that I know in the moment..

[MooglePower]

Wow, this is really awesome! A definitely different and new take on puirt-a-beul. What is this video from?

[REBrandenburg]

tomtscotland! That's Tim O'Brian beside Douglass... Hello...

[tomtscotland]

Oh Dear! ...missed him off the credits...will fix ...Thanks !

[bodhranireb]

Actually it's Russ Barenberg on guitar and Tim O'Brien is playing a bouzouki that he had designed in the shape of a guitar.

[yurobara]

Can anyone translate this into english for me. I love the way it sounds and I've picked up on how to say the words enough to try singing it at my schools Talent show. Some people in my family Speak Gaelic but won't translate for me *tear*

[FelicityCatflap]

The 1st tune, "I bhi a da" I think translates roughly as:

"How will my girl dance a reel with a couple in her way? How will my girl dance a reel with a foursome on the floor?"

2nd one, I think translates as:

"The fiddler is coming tonight, the girls will get a tune. The fiddler is coming tonight. Tonight, the fiddler is coming.

The bailiffs are after me, the joiners are after me, the bailiffs are after me.

I won't have anyone but the tailor"

Unfortunately I don't know the 3rd one.

[0bh]

Karen Matheson is awesome, and I don't use that word lightly.

[MAPSTEW]

ta siad go leir go h-anna mhaith! Is muise Mhairtin as Luimneach, Eire. An bhuil tu go leir go maith?

[kareldevogeleer]

Great song ! Like the country mixed with Karen !

[jimmyhay47]

Is that James Mackie from Shooglenifty on drums?

If so ,hi from Jim Hay.

[animalunaris]

How is it that Karen seems not to have aged in about 20years!?

[WhiteTiger333]

Weeeeeehaaa! These sessions are so much fun to view. Thanks for putting them on YouTube. I'm on the wrong side of the Pond to have gotten them on the telly. But my heritage is Appalachian and thereabouts, so I grew up with the Transatlantic musical roots being "melded" in this series.

Love it, love it!

[donaldalbanich]

tri oran le cela gle math

[graineag]

The first tune is "I Bhi A Da"; the 3rd tune (the first of the "reels" is commonly known as "Thoir a-null Ailean thugam" ("Bring Allan to Me").

[mamajw2]

tomtscotland, could you tell me which puirt a beul "songs" that this recording includes?

[tomtscotland]

From title at start of video -

BHI A DA / 'S IOMA RUD A CHUNNA MI / Cha Téid Fionnlagh A dh'Eige / CAIRISTION NIGHEAN EOGHAINN

The one containing lower case is wrong on video title. I found hits in Google for each individual song :]

[jeanhoel2]

Gaelic is Beautiful !!! really !!!

[JSCWhistler]

It's just nonsense syllables, actually.

[ally21uist]

Actually... Gaelic is A Great Language and Is Unique!! Don't Diss the Language!! Tha e Sgoinneil!!! :)

[JSCWhistler]

Oh no, I wasn't dissing it, I LOVE Gaelic, but I've been told that mouth music is just nonsense syllables, like lilting, and I think somebody mentioned words. No, I love Gaelic, it's a beautiful language that I'm trying to learn.

[ally21uist]

I'm Only Jokeing!! It is really Nonsense!!

But I agree Gaidhlig is a Beautiful Language!!

[pupsenok]

@ally21uist

From a historical and scientific viewpoint, Gaelic is not unique nor an isolate. It is a daughter of the Celtic language brought to Scotland by the Irish. Manx is also a daughter of the Celtic language brought to Mann by the Irish.

[NorthLimitation]

@pupsenok

Irish is also a daughter of the Celtic language (Old Irish) - in many ways, Scottish Gaelic is closer to Old Irish than Irish itself surprisingly.

[aodh78]

Now that's not entirely true. If you listen to this set you'll find there is a girl who hasn't enough space on the dance floor, kittens on the son of the soldiers perch, Finlay is coming from Eigg, and they are playing the pipes and dancing because Ewan's daughter Cairistiona was almost lost,(how is never explained) That's an average day in a Hebridean township. Lol.

[turkrazy]

gaelic is shit

[FelicityCatflap]

and you're a useless waster of Oxygen. Sassenach!

[turkrazy]

shut up u little monkey

[NorthLimitation]

@aodh78

I have to disagree with you Aodh - I don't know if you've heard but from the lyrics it seems that Finlay (who's not yet married it seems) is on Eigg already and won't be leaving, but Allan's coming and he can set the floor! Old Cas Odhar is going to the play the pipes too, oh and handsome Donald, son of the bailiff from Uist, is on his way! Not all bad news it seems! However, two people seem to be in the way of the girl who's dancing, something needs to be done about that :P

[aodh78]

@NorthLimitation You are indeed right, maybe Finlay is too busy spreading the manure? That would clear the floor in on time.