Category: Music

An rathad lùbach gu Cemaes

By Simon

An raoir chaidh mi gu seisean òran ann taigh-samhraidh ann an gàrradh taigh caraid. Bha sinn a’ tionnsgnadh òrain ùr, agus a’ seinn òrain a sgrìobh mise, agus òrain eile tha sinn eòlach aca. Bha spòrs is mireadh againn.

An-duigh chaidh mi gu seisean òran ann an Cemaes faisg air Machynlleth. Bha daoine ann as còraichean ann an Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Aberystwyth, Bangor agus àitichean eile, agus sheinn sinn òrain ann am Beurla agus òrain as a’ Chongo agus as Afraga a Deas. Bha craic math dha-rìreabh ann.

Aréir chuaigh mé chuig seisiún amhránaíocht i dteach samhraidh sa ghairdín teach carad. Sheiftigh muid amhráin, agus chan muid amhráin a scríobh mise, agus amhráin eile atá ar eolas againn. Bhí an-oíche againn.

Inniu chuaigh mé chuig ceardlann amhránaíochta i gCemaes, in aice le Machynlleth. Bhí daoine ann as cóir i Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Aberystwyth, Bangor agus áiteanna eile, agus chan muid amhráin as Béarla agus amhráin ó Chongó agus an Afraic Theas. Bhí sé go hiontach.

Yesterday evening I went to a singing session in the summer house in a friend’s garden. We improvised songs, and sang some of the songs I’ve written, and other songs we know, and we had a great time.

Today I went to a singing workshop in Cemaes near Machynlleth. There were people there from choirs in Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Aberystwyth, Bangor and other places, and we sang songs in English, and songs from Congo and South Africa. It was a very enjoyable day.

The Nadgery Road to Cemaes

By Simon

On the way to a singing workshop in Cemaes today the word nadgery was used to describe the road. From the context I guessed that it meant winding, but as I hadn’t heard the word before I checked, and was told that it’s a dialect word from the north east of England. It doesn’t appear in the OED or in any other dictionary I’ve looked in, but is used online, often in reference to roads. Have you heard it before, or used it? Do you have others words to describe winding roads?

The Nadgery Road to Cemaes could be the title of a tune and/or a song. Maybe I’ll try to write one using it. There is a song called The Rocky Road to Dublin, after all.

Seisean

By Simon

Bha seisean math nam thaigh an-diugh, agus bha ceathrar againn ann an t-seachdain seo. Sheinn sinn measgachadh de puirt-cruinn, ridhleachan, córn-phìoban agus puirt eile air caochladh innealean-ciùil, mar is àbhaist.

A-màireach bidh dithis couchsurfers às an Ruis a’ fuirich leam, agus bidh fàth agam Ruisis a’ bruidhinn riutha. Tha fadachd orm ris.

Bhí seisiún maith ann i mo theach inniu, agus bhí ceathrar againn ann an tseachtain seo. Sheinn muid meascán de poirt, ríleanna, cornphíopaí agus foinn eile ar uirlisí éagsúla, mar is gnách.

Amárach beidh beirt couchsurfers as an Ruis ag fanacht liom, agus beidh deis agam Ruisis ag labhairt leo. Tá mé ag súil go mór leis.

We had a good music session in my house today, and there were four of us this week. We played a mixture of jigs, reels, hornpipes and other tunes on a variety of instruments, as usual.

A couple of couchsurfers from Russia will be staying with me tomorrow, and I’ll have a chance to speak Russian to them. I’m looking forward to it.

Cailín na Gruaige Báine

By Simon

An-diugh chlaraich mi òran eile anns a’ Ghàidhlig na h-Éireann ris an canar Cailín na Gruaige Báine. Rinn mi deannan clàraidhean, agus chan eil mi làn sàsta dhiubh fhathast. Bidh mi a’ feuchainn clàradh nas fhearr a dhèanamh a-màireach, ‘s dòcha.

Inniu chláraigh mé amhrán Gaeilge eile darb ainm Cailín na Gruaige Báine. Rinne mé roinnt taifeadtaí a dhéanamh, agus níl mé go hiomlán sásta leo go fóill. B’fhéidir bainfidh mé triall as taifeadadh níos fearr a dhéanamh amárach.

Today I recorded another song in Irish called Cailín na Gruaige Báine. I made quite a few recordings, but am not completely satisfied with them yet. Maybe I’ll try to make a better recording tomorrow.

Òrain Gaeilge

By Simon

Madainn an-diugh chlaraich mi òran anns a’ Ghàidhlig na h-Éireann ris an canar An Saighdiúir Tréigthe, a dh’ionnsaich mi ann an Éirinn ann an t-Iuchar. Chur mi na facail agus eadar-theangachadh air mo làrach-lìn cuideachd. An t-seachdain seo chaidh chur mi dhà òran eile air mo làrach-lìn – Mo Mhadadh Beag agus Túirne Mháire no Cuibhle-shnìomha Màiri. Tha mi a’ rùnachadh seo a dhèanamh ri gach òran a dh’ionnsaich mi ann an Éirinn, ann an Alba agus anns an Eilean Mhanainn.

Maidin inniu chláraigh mé amhrán as Gaeilge darb ainm An Saighdiúir Tréigthe, a d’fhoghlaim mé in Éirinn i mhí Iúil. Chuir mé na focail agus aistriúchán ar mo shuíomh idirlín chomh maith. An tseachtain seo caite chuir mé dhá amhrán eile ar shuíomh idirlín – Mo Mhadadh Beag agus Túirne Mháire. Tá rún agam seo a déanamh le gach amhrán a d’fhoghlaim mé in Éirinn, in Albain agus in san Oileán Mhanann.

This morning I recorded a song in Irish called An Saighdiúir Tréigthe, that I learnt in Ireland in July. I put the words and a translation on my website as well. Last week I put two other songs on my website – Mo Mhadadh Beag (My Little Dog) and Túirne Mháire (Mary’s Spinning Wheel). I plan to do the same for all the songs I’ve learnt in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

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.