Gaelic psalms at Back Free Church, Isle Of Lewis- 20/21/oct/2003

[Noonday100]

Wonderful! Why isn't this Gaelic style of singing more widely recognized in the British Isles?

[mcgeogheganj]

@Islandretreat catholicism was well established in scotland in the 6th and 7th century .

[DarlaMoonWolf]

potentially new advert for Spring Water, lol

[clairexomac]

Absolutely stunning, do not understand a word.....yet....but moves me with gods presence there with every watch and listen. 

[kenuraking]

The lead voice sounds not unlike the Islamic " Call to prayer "

[saciji]

I have been searching for this for YEARS. I once heard a snippet recorded on Lewis on the BBC whilst living in London. Like the swells of the seas. I fell in love with it / having fallen in love with the islands decades ago. Even now it moves me to tears! Then there was no internet, let alone You Tube. Can such a cd be bought? So many thanks. Truly the presence of God is among this congregation when lifting its voice

[3NUNS]

@saciji : Yes. This CD is to be found on the internet with its'twin'. Please also see the series 'I shall not die' uploaded by Middletome !

[ereiver]

Very moving

[Mr150Rob]

Beautiful.

[armaghlore]

great to hear these people singing in gaelic their native language

we could learn a lot here!

[TheTootitoot]

Beautiful. the passion within Highland Presbyterianism is truly humbling.

[boeingboeing1]

Makes me miss home - oh by the way 5 people must be from south of the Antonine wall.

[theboudica]

Tha mi gu math toilichte seo fhaicinn air an eadar-lìon, far as urrainn do iomadh dhaoine faighinn a-mach mu dheidhinn ceòl Ghàidhlig.

[greenmagoos]

James Donnelly give it a rap please. This video is all about appreciating the finer points of gaels singing psalms. Thank you.

[3NUNS]

@JamesDonnelly90 : None sense.

[Cattachmore22]

So beautiful makes shivers run up and down my spine Scotland's true heritage.

[bridgetoofar2]

@Cattachmore22 This isn't Scotland's true heritage, if it were they would be singing in a Catholic church.

[McAndy89]

@bridgetoofar2 I think Cattachmore22 was referring to the use of the Gaidhlig language, not the particular denomination the church is bro

[Islandretreat]

@bridgetoofar2. Incorrect. This is Bible-based Christianity. Roman Catholicism came here with the Normans when the Saxon Queen Margaret of England married King David I of Scotland and persecuted the Culdee Churches. Popery dominated from 12th-16th century but most of the priests were foreigners, and we know that there were many true (Bible-believing) Christians in Scotand during that period because in 1329 Pope John XXII granted a papal bull to exterminate all heretics. Just enjoy the music.

[brucefetter]

Years ago so someone gave me a tape of gaelic men singing what I think were hymns. It's simply haunting. Does anyone know of good cds for this music?

[Siggybobby]

Amazing! We´ve had this simular song tradition in the Faroes, but sadly on a decline now. There´s just in one church and one choir, where they still sing in the old manner.

[God4Dunoon]

thank you

[greenmagoos]

@God4Dunoon

thank you for commenting

[eemo1873]

Reminds me of holidays on Raasay and going to the church there. sadly a tradition we s a nation have quietly thrown away in most places.

[L0RDC4RSON]

I can't understand a word.  But the feeling of Gods presence is strong just listening.

[reverendclaurarau]

a true living Protestant Reformed Church. may God bless you and keep you in His grace forever and ever. Amen

[3NUNS]

@reverendclaurarau : By what means do you measure such my friend ?

[youngscotsman]

my grandparents live on lewis and my uncle is from Back....he is a Maclennan,this brings back memories of going to church with my grandparents....the isle of lewis and my family there will always have a special place in my heart even though i am now in NZ...thanks for the great sounds and for bringing back great memories..also just realised this was filmed on my birthday....

[youngscotsman]

my grandparents live on lewis and my uncle is from Back....he is a Maclennan,this brings back memories of going to church with my grandparents....the isle of lewis and my family there will always have a special place in my heart even though i am now in NZ...thanks for the great sounds and for bringing back great memories

[b3a5t333]

have a look at the primitive baptist singing videos especially the one from the chillhowie church. it is amazing how the form of singing brought with the early Scottish settlers is almost unchanged in several hundred years.

[instock1]

I have just had deaths in my family and love this .

[brianroger]

Chan eil aon chànan gu leòr. Tapadh leat ón Íoslainn. Mar expatriate Scot bhí álainn seo agus tógála a chloisteái

[TheAnn2shoes]

I had the privilege of attending one of these services whilst in Lewis and it was a truly original experience for me (Church of England!). The psalming out (is that the correct description?), sends tingles down my spine - sounds like they are truly worshipping God. Because of the landscape up there, you feel closer to God.

[TheMrBlackCrow]

this is absolutely beautiful..I can't understand a word of gaelic, but I love this..thank you for the posting

[NiallMor]

Extraordinary! Thank you for sharing this. I was not aware of this style or tradition of singing. I was aware of both Gregorian Chant and American style shape note singing. In a strange sort of way this style seems to partake of both of those earlier styles. Quite beautiful. Thanks again!

[charlotteprc]

Wonderful

[instock1]

think 3 NUNS needs 2 come 2 scotland

[greenmagoos]

@Gaelforced

Got your message Donald

[Gaelforced]

@greenmagoos Many thanks , moran taing......

[michaelbyrnes2012]

"For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." Ps 149 v 4.

May the Lord be pleased to abundantly bless the saints at Back Free Church, and all who hear this their praise of our mighty God and Father.

[reverendclaurarau]

@michaelbyrnes2012 Amen!!!

[Gaelforced]

If there is a God at all, he must be listening to this, misguided or not, nobody can question or deny the beauty of this worship.

[macaulaycreative]

Celtic morning music. Scottish Gaelic singing from the Isle of Lewis on the Isle of Hebrides, Scotland...reminds me so much of Hebrew Psalms ...very similar in enunciation

[macaulaycreative]

Scottish Gaelic singing from the Isle of Lewis on the Isle of Hebrides, Scotland...reminds me so much of Hebrew Psalms ...very similar in enunciation

[Pfranklin28]

I love it ! Glimpses of Heaven, Angelic. .

[haggisscouse]

It was brave of the people of Back Free Church to permit their beautiful psalm singing to be recorded and shared on the internet. A very moving experience, thank you.

[aslewis72]

Pretty amazing when you hear line singing in Gaelic and it reminds you so much of what you grew up with in Kentucky.

[aslewis72]

Sounds just like growing up in Eastern Kentucky, God Bless.

[Scotland428]

Beautiful...........The Gaelic Psalms are just beautiful

[electricman1951]

Beautiful Singing

[SonPraises]

I have Old Regular Baptist family members and was trying to describe the style of accapello lined chanting. I sent them a link to a YouTube video and they directed to this one which. Amazing that the tradition which has been transplanted to Appalachia has been retained in the New World and the Old World as well.

[Quixotic300]

1st psalm = Psalm 118, v 15, sung to Coleshill (regrettably no accents available)

Guth gairdeachais is slainte ta

am pailliunaibh nan saoi:

Deas lamh Iehobhah uile threin

fhuaragh gu treubhach i.

The voice (guth) of rejoicing (gairdeachais) and salvation (slainte) is

in the tabernacle (pailliunaibh) of the righteous (saoi);

the right (deas) hand (lamh) of the Lord (Iehobhah)

doeth valiantly (treubhach).

[McAndy89]

@Quixotic300 Cheers for the translations bro. Do you know the lyrics to the 2nd psalm??

[3NUNS]

@Quixotic300 : In dwellings of the righteous is heard the melody Of joy and health : The right hand of the mighty Lord doth ever valiantly.

[newlife42day]

Beautiful!

[RedBryn]

As an agnostic, I don't share their faith, but how could anyone not be moved by such a hauntingly beautiful piece of music...? A style of singing that moves me to tears everytime I hear it.......just sublime.

[Engus1]

@RedBryn

Sure, and if it moves your heart, your no agnostic, my friend.



[RedBryn]

@Engus1 Superstition really isn't my thing, but sentimentality is. ;-)

[angelamI2day]

Chills every time I hear it. Breathtaking. Imagine that kind of singing every day in heaven. What a beautiful place that will be.

[charlotteprc]

lotteprc

[charlotteprc]

We still sing Psalms also, Great Video. God's Psalms are the Best Song every written.

[bogzini]

Wonderful, this could be in rural Letcher Co, KY or Wise Co, Va in the USA. Thank you for sending this

[McAndy89]

Does anyone know which psalms they're singing???

[Ukieboi83]

Seriously takes my breath away. Imagine that unified sound raising up to God.

[dercarsus]

Amazing I love listening to the Gaelic, but this is just wonderful

[89chevalier]

This makes me want to learn Scottish Gaelic

[mh605]

Beautiful video. Love the singing and the scenery.

In Georgia in the United States, there are people who sing a lot like this.

[wayniebee2003]

@mh605 They're probably Old Regular Baptist. I know the Sardis Association Of Old Regular Baptist has a church in Charity Georgia or it is called Charity.

[bucfan64]

Beautiful beyond words! I am a Primitive Baptist in Southwestern Virginia in the U.S.. Our Singing reflects this in so many ways I can not begin to describe. I understand our Scotch-Irish ancestors brought this tradition with them and I am humbly grateful. There is no music on earth like the music created with a God given instrument............our voices!

Thank you for posting this, you do not realize how appreciative, I am.

[KyHazard]

@bucfan64 I grew up in the Old Regular Baptist Church in Eastern Kentucky. All songs were "lined" and I think this sound is the purest. It is a sound that truly touches the heart. This is so beautiful.

[borntobewild199]

nice vid !

[andyeynort1]

praise yea the lord, call upon him while he is near

[Pinkchadillac76]

I was amazed, floored, etc. To FINALLY find the singing style that reveals the common heritage with the Primitive and Old Regular Baptists of eastern Kentucky and south-western Virginia! I knew it had to still exist somewhere back in the "old country! And the same effect too, a few tears and the hair standing on the back of the neck. Thanks greenmagoos.

[kittenrenea]

@greenmagoos... just plain loveliness... the singing and the scenery.. thanks, friend :)

[Freshhhhh1982]

You know whats weird. I can understand almost all of it and I live in another country speaking another dialect of gaelic. We cut peat too and play a version of shinty. Close cousins.

[rhodasctkw]

this reminds me of being outside my granny's wee house on a Sunday morning on Berneray, listening to this music coming from the Church on the hill. I was only a wee girl then, but it still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up!

[MsBaakie]

This Gaelic psalm singing reaches into my soul. Back is my surname and many of my descendents were presenters in Edinburgh and Berwick Upon Tweed churches down the centuries.

[frapssss]

anyone interested in modern gaelic music varieties should chech out the prducer calum martin's CD 'megantic outlaw'

[marlinus64]

My Families last names are Back and Boggs. We are all members of the Old Regular Baptist Church in Kentucky. Our singing sounds almost exactly like this. Not in Gaelic of course, but the sounds are the same. I am sure the roots of our Churches and music are part of the same tree.

[Speezerina]

The Scots - Irish settled in Appalachia and brought their customs with them. Country music is based on Gaelic music, where Western music is based more on Czech & German music.

[RedBryn]

@Speezerina The influence of Welsh 'Twmpath' music is also evident in American Western style music, where the heavy use of Banjo, & the rhythmical style it's played with, bears some uncanny similarities. In Cymru, a Twmpath is the equivalent of a Gaelic Ceilidh band

[bb3ca201]

I was bawling (with joy) listening to this.  Thanks so much...tapadh leibhse.

[xupd48tb1]

The old regular baptist sing with the same tones and everything. Pretty sure they must have come from this part of the world.

[vonsiems1963]

I much perfer this music over the black gospel singers because it has a connection to my Scot ancestors

[NiallMS]

Many thanks for this video, showing the beautiful though bleak landscape of the Outer Hebrides. (No trees!)

[Demoman1980]

I do not believe in religion in any shape or form,but anyone who listens to this music and doest feel it is dead inside,very ethereal and beautiful,makes me wonder where black gospel music really comes from because the call and response form of both is very similar indeed.

[tagginos]

Call and response is ancient and common to many cultures.

[PLBrayfield]

Call and response is, indeed, common to other cultures. I lived for a year in South Africa. Call & response is common in black churches there, and I believe, of tribal origins there.

[roxanne1959]

I don't understand Gaelic but find this singing amazing..Just beautiful.

[candistyx]

pretty awesome