\oU>lr/ "^GG..

FUINN NAN SALM ^ ^

GAELIC PSALMODY,

INCLUDING THE

ANCIENT TUNES & PRECENTORS' RECITATIVES}

WITH INTRODUCTION.

By L. M A C B E A N.

MUSIC IN BOTH NOTATIONS.

EDINBURGH : M A C L A C H L A N & STEWART,

BOOKSELI.F.RS TO THK U.VIVERSITV.

HIGHLAND PSALM TUNES.

n^ H E Psalm Tunes of the Highlands differ widely from those familiar to the J- English-speaking world, and possess many features of interest. This is especially true of the old tunes that bear the names of Dundee, Elgin, French, London, Martyrs, and Stilt. Of these, London has long been practically obsolete ; and it is feared that in many districts Martyrs, Elgin, and Stilt are also falling into disuse. French and Dundee, however, are still general favourites, and likely long to remain so. The origin of the six old tunes is unknown, but two theories have been advanced. One is, that they are relics of the Columban or Roman church services ; and the other is, that they were brought into Scotland by devout Highland soldiers returning from the Protestant wars of Gustavus Adolphus (ob. 1632). Against both these theories must be placed the fact that the first portion of the Psalter was published in Gaelic verse not earlier than 1659. It was translated into the present measure for the express purpose of suiting the tunes used in the Lowlands and in England ; and the Synod of Argyle, by whom it was published, craved indulgence for literary defects, on the plea that this particular measure had never been used in Gaelic poetry before. Now, the tunes (at least, in their present shape) could not be older than the form of verse to which they are sung, and the Synod of Argyle testifies that that is not older than 1659. Perhaps the truth is that these sacred strains are based on the common Psalm Tunes whose names they bear, and whose principal notes they generally retain ; though, in accordance with the sombre and meditative mood of the Gael, the music has been lengthened out and elaborated until its whole spirit and character is changed, and we have in effect new times. It may be that this change is partly due to reminiscences of the chanting in the pre-Reformation Church, and to the Swedish sacred airs brought home by Highland pipers in the seventeenth century, but the predominance of local colouring is very marked.

Along with these time-honoured tunes, it has been thought well to publish ttie Highland versions of some that are of more recent introduction to the north such as Coleshill, Bangor, &c. These tunes (of which the most generally used are here printed) are sung alongside the old ones, and present in a less advanced form the same process of popular elaboration. The change from the severe simplicity of the original tunes is not due to the precentors ; but, as a precentor writes, " The people sing the new tunes with variations of their own " variations, however, that proceed on definite principles, and are recognised over wide districts.

To a stranger, the most striking feature in the service of praise in a Highland church is the reading or intoning of each line by the precentor before it is sung by the

congregation. This reading of the line is a barbarism introduced in obedience to the Westminster Assembly, for the benefit of people who could not read ; but, by supply- ing a simple recitative, the musical genius of the Highland people has almost succeeded in changing it into a thing of beauty.

The present collection is, so far as can be ascertained, the first that includes, along with the six " old " tunes, tlic Highland forms of modern psalms tunes, but of the former several editions appeared forty or fifty years ago. Somewhere in the third decade of the century, five of the tunes were published by Mr James Fraser, and this collection passed through several editions. In 1S37 a band cf young Highlanders connected with Duke Street Church, Glasgow (under the guidance of Mr A. Munro, a native of Bonar Bridge), published three old tunes, and, in a second edition, issued in 1848, versions of the whole six were included. In 1844 appeared Joseph Mainzer's "Gaelic Psalmody of Ross-shire and Neighbouring Counties," containing five tunes taken down by Robert Brown in StrathpefTer, and afterwards revised and supplied with accompaniments by Mainzer, who also wrote a dissertation on this species of music. In 1845 the General Assembly of the Free Church met at Inverness, and one result was the publication of a collection of Highland Psalm Tunes (under the aus- pices of that church), by Mr T. Hately, who noted them down from the singing of Mr Murdo M'Lennan. That collection gave the melody in most cases with great faithfulness ; but, in consequence of the undoubted difficulty of reducing the music to regular measure, it was printed without bars. The tunes were also included in an edition of Matheson's Gaelic Psalmody, which is a collection of common Psalm Tunes, with Gaelic words. An examination of these old collections will show that their ver- sions differ from each other more than almost any of them does from the old tunes in the present collection ; so that little change can have taken place during the last forty years, except in the direction of assimilating the versions of different districts.

In the preparation of this collection, valuable aid was rendered by Mr Alex. Fraser, Free Church College, Glasgow (who spared no trouble in securing the best readings), and by many clergymen and precentors in different parts of the Highlands, who have kindly supplied or revised tunes. It is hoped that, as a result of the care exercised, this will be found the most perfect, as well as complete, collection of Gaelic psalmody ever published.

The tunes need no word of commendation here. For two centuries they have given musical expression to the devotional feelings of the Highland people ; and no one who has heard them sung by thousands on the heath in the day of solemn assembly can help admiring the power with which their wild sweet melody— now ri>ing in a triumphant swell, and anon dying away in plaintive cadences on the summer air expresses the deepest joys and sorrows of a religious race.

f D

'•a>^

^^V^

\ 195

b

COLESHILL.

{:m.s\l :-.l\l ■.ii\l -.tu :-[[ 1 : s Mo ahuile togam suas a chum. Mo / to the hiUs will lift mine eyes, I

shui to

le the

'}

O m J J m

pMi-M r ifr^

là-^

5 .,1 : S I r : n || d.d'ir' : -.d] r' : m' I ri : d\l ||

6 'chum. Nam beann o'n tig 7noneart,\\ mine eyes . From whence doth come mine aid ,

Jld' :1 IB :d' 1 to gam

to hills

suas lift

n '■••',

n; m 1*

r'^T*^

Coiv)

_

As rF T-

fff-s

*—

ftfj-

f?~f

-f-+^

'-r-

'—^

»;> '^ 1

' '

' ^^ '

4-^ '

u-i :^

-1 J

C : ;.d' \r' -.'.d ir' : (i' 1 r' :-. mjri <^' :rid\l I 1 ^d' : r' T_

j O'n 2)ia rinn talamh agus neamh, O'n ' 1

pi' .r' I (f

Dia safe

nnn

ty

-^ ,.— -, ,.-^,

r > ,4^

-^ P;-^.;

A i" '

~d 4 f^

-^ r-ll a-

f.A f r

T-F-\

W P— * J

V J Jf^ J

J J Ir/

1 n '

Hf4

d' : 1 Is

tal com

amh eth

I 1 >. s i S.,1 : s

' ag us from the

r : PI \\:l.d^ In :-,di|r'tm' Ir' '.d\l\

neamh. Ta m'/hurtachd ui-le teachd, I Lordj Who heaven and earth hath made,

-Q-

Ccii^

>>^

fit \i à

a) J ♦' r

[

r ♦* J

a y

•J

\—i t^^

1 I

: 1

Ta Who

m'fhurt heaven

I S.,1 :d'

achd and

: pi', r' I d'

t.l.s|l

ui -

earth

hath

teachd. made.

t/ »» :-•/!« •.-.mis :-.l^\m^:(m.fi\ i

-fiii - I d .,r

^, " Is toigh

love the Lord, because my voice ^ I

key/ ' I I

F I /s ioigh learn Dia, airso7i gu'n d'tisd, ' ' Is toigh

^ I love the Lord, because my voice. I love

f :n I r .n,f:8

leam the

|n.,f:s If -piirMin d.,r:w |r .w,f:s,l.s m .^fnir .^r|d,r.in,f :s,1.8 In :-,f I s

Dia, I air eon

I Lord, be cause

gun Diy

d'eisd, voice.

('./ \m :-./|s i-.l^ m_£'.{m .r)\\n .^i:s .Isfjn- :r.pi,8!r :n |r.d:ri.r~|

I Ri m'ghuth 's ri m^uimigh/òs, ' Ri m' ' ghuth j

^And prayers He did hear, And pray— - ^

n ^'■"' ru

C07^ ^

-—

^ 4. Y

A 1*

3 3i

» r-

■"',■

-i^.-

> \*'F

^^

At) rp-|- f J

hrt"

^=^^=f^

1 f r u

=j—

nT ^H

^

V* H k-i '

H ^

1 [/> ^ '

r-^h^

1

:/ JT^ :-•/!« :-.wi « :-.ym^:^.^|| s :1 |d' .,t:l 's.l:'.t|d'.,t:l.,tl s

A chiorm gu'n d'aom e rium a chluas, 1 1 A ' chionn ' gi

/, while I live, mil call on Him, I, while I

u'n I

rium call

chluas, Him,

:/ \m :-/]» :-.ljSl m^ : (m. r) ìì n .,f: a dsfìn :r.m,s|r :pi |r.d:n.r Sior eigheam ris ri m' bheo. II Sior I eigh -

Who.botoed to 7ne His ear. Who bowed

j> .IJJJT] \^tj^t\lll^^

I

d :- i 1, ..drr.d.li Is, :d,r.in.f|s .,l:s |d :r jn earn ris _ _ | ri m'

to mo His

ST DAVID'S

cey/ I lidl •- h'-ls :- 1 1 :-ld' :- 1 f ;- Is :1 In;- Is :- Ifj-Jj : - In :- I- : - |r :■

^ \ I O I thug -- I aibh I mol -- I adh ' mòr I do ' D

Give praise and thanks un to

Dhia, the Lord.

^t-,l \l :l \l :l \t :-.l\l

^ \ Tha ann an Sion/eitheamh ort, || Tha ann Praisewaita/orTheeinSion,Lord, Praise waits

I

L,t:d'.r|d'|t.l,t:l |l.,t:d'.r|d'|t.U:l |l:s|l :t |d' :-.tll.,f.l [1 :s.,Ilt-,l-S |n:-|s:

Si - Thee

feith Si -

eamh on

ort. Lord,

\ Moladh, a Dhe, gun dith; \ To Thee vows paid shall be;

d' :r'- Im'.r'm'r'td' Id' :r' lm:r',in':r' Id' :r!in|r'

Mol - To

adh, Thee

I

II

d' :ri In' .rWr':d' Id' :t |l.,t:di Ir' :n' Ir' :d'.t|l :-.tid'

a

vows

Dbe, paid

gun shall

dithj be;

rfi U :U\l :s II :U\d :- ||d .t' |n' .r'in'r':d'

{ 'Sann duit a

dhiolar fos gu paiU; ' 'Sann 0 Thou that hearer art o/ prayer, 0

d' :r' |pi'.r^n':r' |d' :r',pi'|r' :- Ì

djiit )

Thou I ^

n' :-.ri|d Hd :-.tll :t Id' -.t |l,t:l 1 1 :s |1 •.* I d' :-.t|l.,t:l

in' :-.r'|d :Hd_:

i \l I dh

I that he

dhioL - - I ar hear - - er

1 •.s.,l|t..l;s InHs:-

gu I pailt

of prayer,

/'tf<:

ntjMcir II [1

Cong

j-^ J i .1 j^ r^

:di I < :<J|/ :i.f|di

A bhoid mar gheaUar L

All flesh shall come to Thee AH

:t II -M

1 . d' 1 1 s : 1 .,t

I bhoid flesh

Tbee.

NEW LONDON

7{\

d:- In:- In:- Is :- Id :n|-:-ld': II:- |s:-| :-l8:lld' :- Id' :- !t : |1 :- 1 1

Iguth I mo I bheoil ( trath I eigh

Lord, give ear un to

earn my

nut ; voice.

rrtr'~^' I °L.r lr--'°' l.i-L S

^

dxiasaibh chuala sinn,a DhS, Le'r 0 Cod, we loith our tars have heard,0

old as God.

aibi) ■we

(I

f :s |ls,l:s Is :f |s.,l:s |s.,l:3.f|n.,l:r |t :pi jfsf.nrnrr id :r |w

cliual with

Sinn, ears

have

Dhe, heard ,

(

/ :r./!fi - ill :s il.s:f If :s II :s Is :f |

No. ijiiiomhar-u c rinveadh hat, Na Whatiuorks Thouin Ihfirdays hadst done, What

jnioinh - works

s.,l;si

s.f,s:l.,sln.;s:r Ir :n |f^.wrn-. I |t 'w )fsf.nTn:i 1 s :l.,B|w.>s:r Id .r Jw :-

their

riDQ days

- * eadh leat,

badst doDB.

! Qmff ^ . ,

i Nan

:r .m,/ :«^|to :- |[r .^f :pi |r -.f'.s Is ;1 .,s |n -.s.t Nan aimsvr fad d chein. 1 1 N an

Ev'n in the days of old. Ev'n

I

II

r : PI lfsf.inrn:r |r :n |fsf-pirpi:r Ir :d Irjn-.T Id :r

fad days

cheir old.

MARTYR;

Congrtgation

'.I \l :l \l :l \l '.t \l :- llr :(n If :s.f,(»ilr-,Pi:f Is : - |s :1 |s.l,s:f

'ffiOsTiai^aphrio-^anaichad lath'r] Os - - - -

:\os

\o

let the prisoners' sighs ascend Q

naidh let

the

M

y'f.jjjijj^a^jjjjjiijjjgjte^^

1'

1 :s |l.?:f !f.,s:l.,t|l.s:f njr.,n:f Is.fim |r.,r>i:f.s ll.s^:l .s,flf :s II

r

phrio pris -

san - ~ 'nere'

aich sighs

lath'r, scend

Conp

1 Tkigeadh a Dhè namfeart. Tbig

fie/ore Thy tight, onhigh. Be

1 eadh fore

Pfejgf Iffr^rffr+HifririLa

{

fi :1 .,t|d' :- |l.d':-.t |l.,t:l It d' : -.r' !"' ■r'.d'.-t Id' •.t.l,a|i :■

a Thy

Dh6 sight,

feart. high.

Conpr

t:l \l Ms :/ js :-.i\l :- 111 :s |l..t:d' jl.d':-.t;l.t,l:s [s :Utld'..t:l ^

'\'Sandrfia7nadk'orduicheadhchumbais 'San | dream la r

^ Preserve those in Thy mighty power, Pre - - - serve those )

(I

1 :s |l.s:f lf..s:l.,t|l.s:f.in|r..n:f | s.f :m Irv^f -s ll.s,f:l .s,f|f :b |1 :-

dh'ord -' uich - - - - | eadh | chum

in Thy might - - - - y

bais power,

:l \i :l.s\s \l :d> lid' :t |1 ..tid' 11 -d' :- -t 11 .t>l

Saor-sa reir I Tneud do neirt. |j Saor - That are de- signed to die. That

- I sa

are

If

s :1 ..t|d' :- ll.d':-.t |l.,t:l Is -1 :- .s II s,f :1 .s,f f :Pt .f.mlx

meud signed

neirt. die.

(I

f :s |l,s.l,8:f If :n lr.,in:f ln.,f:s |f :n Ir :n.r,dlr :-

g eigh- Thee

each Hut,

do cry.

:/ jwi :/ \s :s U -.1 \s_jm lid :r.,nlf ;- If :s |1 :s If :w |r.,n:f lstabhairmdeachdfòsdom'fjhuth,'(s ' tabh - - I

And give au ear unto my voice, And give

li

f :S

1 l,s.l,s : f

f :n |r.,r.:f

n.,f:8

fòs to

If

:n

|r :n.r.d|r :-

cisd - eaf

-

eachd

un - -

1 do m'. gbuth my voice.

(?

Ntrath ghlaodham. riitt'am fheum,\ 'Ntrath yVliim I cry un to Thee. When

ghlaodh - - -"

I

FRENCH

(ROSS-SniRE VERSION)

^onffreffation

F < toigh learn, Dia, airson gu'n d'eisd i I Is V / love the Lord because my voice

toigh love

leatn the

È^.^j|j.r^J.5Ji

^ ^rfr^

*t

In :f Is :l.s,f|n :r.,n|r

Dia, Lord

Id r,n:r |r .n,r:d |d .r,i«i: r -.dlr n :

lair

son cause

'gu'n d'eisd

my voice

(:« I-' -.1 h :- I/ :<m) |jn -4 Ri mghuth 's ri m'uimigh/òs, Hrì m'

And praym He did hear. And

,f : 8 II .s,f: n

ghuth

pray - _

(:« » |i '"lis :1 Id' : A chtonn giCn d^aom e rium a cWttar I A /. inMlf I i.ivp. inill rail on Him. T.

1 |t.l.tl:s

chionn while

num call

I chluas. Him,

i ^ ;i. . . . 1

-7^— j F=^

a ^ » , 1

V— h

^

rj-g! 1

«p-^

-h~H-+-

+-f-^

M^

fet^

UiU.

^

PEE

|/- :* :i ;- / ifa,; 11 n .,f:g |l.s,f:in |d_.r

5tor eigheam ris ri m' bheo. 11 Sior'

>f feo ftoieed to me His ear Who

in : d .n,r

eigh

bowed

OLD LONDON

Conffregatian

/ I O'n doimhnty 0

ml/ :sj\m :— j|r.,in:f.,n|f,n.r ;n [r.,nJ.,n!f,n.r:n |r.,pi:f,,n|f,m.r:n

lehobhah Dhè, II O'n Lordjrom the depths to Thee I cried. Lord,

doimh from

ae, the

n

II

r.,ni;f ■,n|f,pi.r.Pi |t :i»i.r|d :-)I| :d |t|.(i,t,:li 1, .,t,:d |r.n:r |r,,m:f |n.r,d:r

O

depths

I ho - Thee

~ ibhah I

Dhe, cried.

Ccna

ill I II rj r ic/i^^Ticrr/-^^^

r.^M/ :/ I/ :«_/!»» :- 11 r .,pi -.f .,n|f,n.T :ri |r .,pi :f .,w If^.r :w "i

I Z>o ghlaodh mi riutsa suas ; \\ Do ghlaodh t

^Mvvoice. Lord, do Thou hfitir- Mw vnir^ '

{\

r .,m:f .,n|f,pi.r :pi |r .^mif .,n|f .pi :r |r :n.r fT .r,pi:r Id :r |n

mi Lord,

I nut do

'sua« ; hear

DUNDEE

(StrmeRI.AND-SHIRE VEKSION)

lan Sion/eitheamk ort, llTha Praise wails /or Th.ee in Sion,Lvrd, Praiae

&nn waita

Moladh, a Dhe, gun dilh, II Mol To Thee vows paid shall be, To

ladh, Thee

}

j rTTj ir-M"f irrn'ji^

I

-In' :r.d' Id' r-.tjl r-.d' Ir' :-.d'lPi' :r'.d'll :-.tid

Dhe. paid

gun ebaU

Idith.

j ^Iffi JNi r frTfi'/lrTT^Tih^

y.Uìd' :rfi -J II :t M' :-||d' ;-.r'|Pi' ;r'.d'|d' :-.r'|n' :f'.ni,r'|r' :-|n' :r'.d's

1 'Sann duit a dhiolatfos gupaiU, \\ 'Sann

0 Thou that hearer art o/ prayer, 0

duit Thou

that

MARTYRDOM

Congregation

KEY B|,(

i .d\t, : ..d\r -...Ar :-m|r :(/.^|l8|: I Bhi tabhairt huidheachas do Dh'a, Bhi

;1, Isi-l, :s,.f, Is,:-! 1

Bhi ' tabh' To ren-der thankn unto the Lord, To rend

buidh thanks

r)

r r'f ir If ifrjir if iiiirnf i if-i

d : r In

I ' -each

r :i«i.rjd

.r\r \- .m\r •- .m

do the

hia, Lord

'S ni sàr-mhaith maiseach e, It is a come-ly thing ;

j Bhi tabhairt diu, 0 Thi a's àird', ' ' Bhi tabh

^ And to ThynamfjO Thou Most High, And to

aire Thy

f f ir nr irfjj'ir ir ii|N-iU-i.ift

{

r :n If :n

Thi Thou

r n :r.d | r :-!-:- 11 •<^|'i '.-.d\r : -.fwlr

a's ' I àird' ' Do t'ainm-sa /eadh gach re.

Most High. Du« praise aloud to sing.

BANGOR.

t.i.ì\n, , |,-J|lr^ J i J^j ;^

KEY D

\ Man

\l '.I \l :s II 1

thogras Jiadh na sruthan uisg) Mar Like as the hart for water brooks , Like

f

: m

ir

thog as

ras the

n :S

^

.rj >'-^M' If' l':J' : Ir ll^l^: '■I'-"' II

r :n |s.,l:d'

\ Ifiadh

fiadh na

hart for

l„d';t |1

sruth an wa ter

/ I s :-.8| I : ; \i n

uisg M Le'buireadh ard gu f/tur, I brooks . In thirst doth pant and bray,

I Mar sin tha m'anam ploscariaichj \ Mar "So pants my longing soul, 0 God, So

SID

pants

tha my

-' I

I

•ff Precentor

«' ;.J. ^M JJ

ST PAUL'S

Congregation

E^?^?J

^^^iTf-fTtn^^

/ .Lid :~.d\d :l, \d : »• \d

KEyI I ' I || I—

■^ I Bha aoibhneas orm trath thubhairt iad, Bha I aoibh

I joyed when to the house of God, I joyed

d:- |r:pi I r :-|d :r In :-|- :r.d|s,:-|-: l,d

neas i orm

when to

n iv 4): , "'"'^

{

|r ;-.n,r[r : - |pi :r Id :-|-:li I d ;- j-:- 11 A d :-.d\m.r ; d \ d : r.,m

trath the

thubh house

airt I iad, II Gu tigh Dhe theid sinn suas ;

of God, Go up, they said to me;

jf_Cons

" èjlf f.r ir f If- fii'fJ^p

{[

r -d ' r :- : pi.s ! s : - I - : PI If

:pi |n :- |r :d ir : - In

tigh up,

Dhe they

theid

1 Sinn to

suas ; me;

fci

Cor,g

i^--'Mi-iir-;r^"^FFgTmTr^

3P=F=?=

r .r\ d :-.d| d :l,\d :r \ d :-J| 11 d :- I n ;-.r|r

~?ru8a~lem, \\ Ad ]

\in thy gates, Jer

;d.r|ii:-|-ir.n|f :- 1— :n

\ Ad dhorsaibh, 0 lerusa-lem, \\ Ad | dhors | aibh, ' O

'^ Jem - sa- lent, withi

em,

^}

al ; em, thy gates,

.d I d :-.rf| r \d\d --l,

1 Ar cosa keasaidh fòs. Our feet shall standing be.

fe*

"-^J^-^ I 'LJ I '°"' ^r ^""^^rf■r^"

{I

Ar Our

li.d |li:-l-:s, |f:-| -:n In :-|r:d|r:-|-:n.r|d: ~ ' " fòs.

feet

I & shall

seas I aidh

stand ing

OOISTTEISTTS.

riJERLAND VERSION,

INTRODUCTION— HIGHLAND psalm tunes,

COLESHILL, PSALM CXXI.-3, . FRENCH (OLD), INVERNESS AND SU'l

CXVI.-I,

ST DAVID'S, PSALM CVI.-I,

DUNDEE lOLD), INVERNESS AND ROSS-SHIRE VERSION,

LXV.-I,

NEV,- LONDON, PSALM XXVII,-;, ELGIN (OLD), PSALM XLIV.-I,... MARTYRS (OLD), PSALM LXXIX.-II, STILT (OLD), PSALM CXLI.-l, ... FRENCH (OLD), ROSS-SHIRE VERSION, OLD LONDON, PSALM CXXX.-I, DUNDEE (OLD) SUTHERLANDSIIIRE VJ MARTYRDOM, PSALM XCU.-l, . BANGOR, PSALM XLII.-l, ST PAUL, PSALM CXXII.-I,

In the tune "French" ulmxgh is misprinted for urnuigh.

PAG SI.

1

PSALM CXVl.

ERSION, PSALM LXV.

NO W PUBLISHED, PRICE 6d, THE

Sacreò Soiigs of tbe (5ael :

A COLLECTION Or

HIGHLAND HYMNS, WITH TRANSLATIONS.

Music in both Noiafion^.

EDINBURGH : MACLACHLAN & STEWART.

ALSO,

TI-IE S03>TOS OF THE C3-^EL,

With Translaiio/is and Music.

Second Edition Cloth, ij6; Tartan Paper, jj-, DUGALD BUCHANAN'S

SPIRITUAL SONGS,

Translated into English Verse.

EDINBURGH: MACLACHLAN & STEWART.

Second Edition Cloth, i/-,

FsMmwnw <■ iiEggep^ V m •:• S^EWC,

With Vocabulary and Key.

INVERNESS: JOHN NOBLE.

A'ozv Published 120 Pages Price ij6,

GUIDE TO GAELIC CONVERSATION

Phrases, Dialogues, Letter Forms, Vocabularies, &;c.,

WITH PROS Uy CI AT ION.

INVERNESS : JOHN NOBLE. EDINBURGH: MACLACHLAN & STEWART.