Outlander Scottish Press Day roundup – Hint Sam speaks in English to BBC Radio

I don’t often post the general Outlander TV series related news but I figured today would be a good exception since most of the articles are calling out the attention paid to Gàidhlig language and culture in the production. I’m also including a link to the BBC Radio Nan Gàidheal program Aithris Na Maidne.

The Scotsman

The first article released yesterday was from The Scotsman. It’s a bit filled with hyperbole for my taste. The author makes it sound a bit like 2000 Outlander fans have been storming Doune Castle. Àdhamh isn’t credited as the Gaelic coach in this article but they did talk to Sam a bit about it and he highlights the Gàidhlig being an important part of the story. I am a bit worried now about exactly how bad Jamie’s scars are going to look after this quote from Sam:

Heughan, who admitted he has had to die his hair red for the part, said: “It feels like I get beaten up in every show. I do have hundreds of scars in the show. My whole back is covered in them. It looks really gruesome. We did a shoot last week when there was a crowd of extras there and people were almost passing out when they saw them. They look amazing.”

You can read the entire The Scotsman article here.

Continue reading →

Great Scot! music recommendation for March 12, 2014 – Griogair – Dail-riata

I found this piece thanks to a Cape Breton friend of mine. Thanks, Carole!  It’s a breathtaking piece. I wish I understood enough Gàidhlig to know exactly what it is saying but I love the introduction and his obvious love for his culture.  This video was recorded at the 2008 Celtic Connections Festival.  I really hope to make it to Celtic Connections some day.

Griogair – Dail-riata

http://youtu.be/4Bz77zNeHfA

Is Àdhamh trying to give Matt Roberts some competition for #POTD?

Not only do we get a lovely picture to start the day, we also get to add a new word to our Gàidhlig vocabulary.

He also responded to disbelievers who thought it looked a bit fliuch (wet) and fuar (cold):

I don’t know how it is where you are today, but here …Tha i glè brèagha an-diugh! (It is a very fine day today!)

Great Scot! All about Waulking or Milling Frolics

I thought I would start this week off looking at a very specific type of Scottish song associated with the waulking of cloth.  It is only in Scotland (and by migration to Nova Scotia) that waulking became closely associated with traditional Gàidhlig songs. Women used the rhythmic songs to both help them in their work and also to pass the time more enjoyably.

Waulking (also known as fulling) is the process in making cloth where it is beaten to make it thicker and water resistant (especially needed in Scotland). Fulling mills were introduced in medieval times but in many more remote and self-sufficient areas, the process continued to be done by hand up into the 20th century. As part of the exodus of Highland Scots during the Clearances after the failed uprising in 1745, the process was carried to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in the new world where the process became known as milling.  There are still milling frolics held today in an effort to maintain old traditions.

A short explanation of milling:

For those of an Outlandish persuasion, Diana Gabaldon does a great scene describing waulking in Dragonfly in Amber: Continue reading →

Great Scot! music recommendation for March 10, 2014 – Rankin Family Gaelic Melody

I’ve returned once again to Gàidhlig songs for our musical recommendation today.  I wanted something especially upbeat to help deal with post-DST Monday morning blahs.  This is the Rankin Family with one of my favorite pieces.  I like the fact that the medley has a range of tempos.

Interestingly, I had the opportunity to speak to Raylene one time about the Gaelic songs that were in the Rankin Family repertoire. She told me that they mostly learned the songs phonetically since none of the sisters spoke Gàidhlig.  I thought this was interesting since the Rankins are from Mabou, Cape Breton, NS where Gàidhlig traditions have held pretty strong.

Rankin Family – Gaelic Medley