Irish Tradition : Willie Clancy "Dark Lochnagar"

Yet another recording from the LP "Mo Cheol Thú." with the introduction by Ciaran MacMathuna in full. I do not know the origin of the tune but I think it must be related in some way to Lord Byron's poem of the same name which was translated into Gaelic by Donald MacIntyre of South Uist (1889-1964)

Loch nan Geàrr

Loch nan Geàrr

A-mach le'r cuid chòmhnard,
Le 'ur gàraidhean ròsan,
Far an àill le luchd-sòghalachd
Còmhnuidh is tàmh ;
Thoir dhòmhsa na sléibhtean
Dha'n còmhdach a' chléiteag,
Chuir saorsa dhi fhéin iad
An éideadh a gràidh.

0, Albainn gur miann leam
Do gharbhlaichean fiadhaich,
Ged is gailbheach, neo-thìorail,
Tha siantan mu'm bàrr;
Gun fhois leam 's an ìosal,
Ach goirteas 'nam inntinn
Ri osnaich bho'n chuidhtich mi
Glinn Loch nan Geàrr.

Le cas-cheum na h-òige
Gum b'ait leam do mhòinteach
B'e am breacan mo chleòca,
'Gam chòmhdach gu làr;
'S b'e ùidh mo mhac-meanmna
Na diùnlaich a dh' fhalbh bhuainn,
Bha cliùiteach 'nan aimsir
An seanchas nam bàrd.

Chan iarrainn bho d'chéilidh
Gus sìoladh na gréine,
Gus an lìonadh le reultan
Na speuran gu h-àrd;
'S bhiodh m'aigne air a biathadh
Le eachdraidh na thriall bhuainn
Aig seanachaidhean liath-cheannach
Sliabh Loch nan Geàrr.

Ar leam gun tig glaodh rium
A osna na gaoithe,
Mar bhuaidh-ghairm nan daoine,
Bu chaomh leo bhith ann ;
Mar ghàirdeachas anma
Nan àrmunn a dh'fhalbh bhuainn,
A' marcachd nan stoirmeadh
Air garbhlach nam beann.

Mu'n cuairt Loch nan Geàrr
Nuair is àird' bhios am bùirean
Bhios sneachd 'ga sgiùrsadh
A dh'ionnsaigh an làir;
Bidh taibhsean mo shinnsear
Nach d' dhiobair am biùthas
Feadh neòil dhubh' na dùldachd
Os cionn Loch nan Geàrr.

Na ar n-éirigh gun sealbh,
'S bochd an targradh nach d'fhuair sibh
Thoirt sanais 'na uair
Nach robh buaidh dhuibh an dàn;
Ar binn gun robh leagta,
Thug Freasdal mu'n cuairt e,
Nach coisneadh ar cruadal
Ach suaimhneas a' bhàis.

Gur sòlas dha 'r cnàmhan
Na an làraichean ùdlaidh
Bhith cnàmh anns an ùir
Anns 'm bu dùthchas dhaibh tàmh,
'S tha cuimhn' air ar gaisge
Ann an eachdraidh nan linntean,
'S an caismeachd nam pioban
Feadh glinn Loch nan Geàrr.

Tha bliadhna no dhà
Bho'n là dh'fhàg mi do chùrsa,
Théid àireamh gu m' chùl dhiubh
Mu'n tionndaidh mi nall;
Nàdur cha d' bhàirig ort
Blàthan no flùran,
Ach 's àillidhe leams' thu
Na Dùthaich nan Gall.

A réidh Shasuinn uaine
Gur suarach do bhruthaichean,
Maol le fear-siubhal
A chunnaic na b'fheàrr;
Mo ghràdh-s' air na fiadh-chreagan,
Fiaclacha dubha
A tha fiasag mu'm busan
Air sgùrr Loch nan Geàrr.

Away ye grey landscapes, ye gardens o' roses
In you let the minions of luxury rove
And restore me the rocks where the snowflake reposes
If still they are sacred to freedom and love
Brave Caledonia, dear are thy mountains
Round their white summits though elements war
Though cataracts roar 'stead of smooth-flowing fountains
I sigh for the valley o' dark Lochnagar

Ah! there my young footsteps in infancy wandered
My cap was the bonnet, my cloak was the plaid
On chieftains departed my memory lingered
As daily I strayed through the pine-covered glade
I sought not my home till the day's dying glory
Gave place to the rays o' the bright polar star
My fancy was cheered by the bold martial story
As told by the sons o' dark Lochnagar

Years have rolled on, Lochnagar, since I left you
Years must roll on ere I see you again
Though Nature of verdure and flowers bereft you
Yet still art thou dearer than Albion's plain
England! thy beauties are tame and domestic
To one who has roved on the mountains afar
Oh for the crags that are wild and majestic
The steep frowning glories o' wild Lochnagar

Ill-starred now the brave, did no vision foreboding
Tell you that fate had forsaken our cause?
Yet were you destined to die at Culloden
Though victory crowned not your fall with applause
Yet were you happy in death's earthly slumber
To sleep wi' your clan in the caves of Braemar
The pibroch resounds to the piper's loud number
Your deeds to the echoes of wild Lochnagar

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Irish
• Tradition
• Willie
• Clancy
• piper
• piobaire
• Dark
• Lochnagar
• Celtic
• Celtique
• Folk

[clarebannerman]

Remember as a child Willie visiting our house at home & my Mother asking him to play the Tin Whistle...which he duly obliged. Ní fheicimíd a leithéid ann arís.

[UISTMAN59]

@clarebannerman Thanks for the note Mike. Tá an ceart agat . I remember being told a story about a piping instructor at Edinburgh Castle who , in a moment of sombre reflection announced "Och Och, all the great pipers are dead "" then added "and to tell the truth I'm not feeling that well myself!"

[blkvelvetband]

Im speechless!...never heard this fabulous piece before

[UISTMAN59]

@blkvelvetband Thanks for adding the note. Glad you liked it. Hope you find some other great tunes on my channel too :-)

[rotatom]

Oh man, that's the stuff. Go Willy!

[UISTMAN59]

@rotatom Thanks for adding the note. 

[ancientwisdom2012]

@UISTMAN59 i think the ford quote is taken out of context, but the point is well made. It is a shame that they aren't as well known. I recently discovered them myself. As for the quote it refers to history being written by the conquerors, the rich and powerful 'elite'... and in such case he is right on. history is a far cry from what really took place if you do some real digging ( as evidenced by some of the videos on my page) anyway i recently ordered a set to start learning - by S. Gallagher

[pipewatcher]

the business Thanks again, a chara

cheers

[LindsayCurran]

Eh, thanks to uistman, maybe some improvement, with his posts! Love this! Many thanks!

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks for the note :-)