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Author
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Comment
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AlisonPegg
Registered User
(2/8/05 9:12 am)
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Fairy music, the burrow people, and the pentatonic scale
I'm looking for info on the origins of Hebridean music, in particular the use of the pentatonic scale and the Gaelic 6 note scale. One theory is that this music has extremely early origins and may have come from the people of "the burrows." ( the fairy hills?) I'm wondering if this completely different race of people are behind the stories of brownies and fairy people. Very theoretical I know but any info or ideas would be welcome.
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/8/05 6:19 pm)
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Have you looked into any ethnomusicology?
I would look there and some music history. That could give you some idea of the recorded history of the music. Then you could go from there.
Jess
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/8/05 6:23 pm)
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Interesting link
www.cyberscotia.com/ogmio...cales.html
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Black Sheep
Registered User
(2/9/05 11:33 am)
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Waulking
You know about waulking?
Mouth music sung mostly by women to the rhythm of tweed.
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AlisonPegg
Registered User
(2/9/05 3:39 pm)
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Re: Fairy music, the burrow people, and the pentatonic scale
Thanks Jess, yes I'm familiar with the Marjorie Kennedy-Fraser song book and her ideas about the pentatonic scale. I'm just wondering if there has been any new research into the links with an earlier race. Also I'm frustrated because I read a very curious enigmatic cradle song on the internet, referring to sheep stealing, goat stealing, and (most strange) stealing "the brownie on the hill", and for the life of me I can't trace it now. It was in Gaelic but with an English translation.
Thanks too BlackSheep for the reference to waulking. Yes, I'm familiar with that too. Bit of a smelly process, no wonder they had to keep singing!
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Black Sheep
Registered User
(2/10/05 7:11 pm)
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Re: Fairy music, the burrow people, and the pentatonic scale
Sometimes it takes a few days for my brain to get back to me...
Do you think that the stolen brownie from the hill might have looked a bit like this Alison?
www.highlandcattleborland...istory.htm
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AlisonPegg
Registered User
(2/11/05 4:15 am)
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Re: Fairy music, the burrow people, and the pentatonic scale
What a brilliant picture, Black Sheep. I love it! These sheep have such character. And they make you want to laugh..
I've searched long and hard to find my original reference to the brownie on the hill, among the Gaelic Oran. But this different verse gives another reference. I love the image of the fairy mouse...
www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/corpus/Carmina/B10.html
My theory is that another race of people were living in the islands simulataneously. The people of the burrows, who most probably had their own distinctive music, but kept themselves quite separate, except when they needed to steal eggs or milk or whatever. They obviously used darts and arrows.
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Otherworld
Registered User
(2/13/05 11:22 am)
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Re: Fairy music, the burrow people, and the pentatonic scale
there is a Scottish story that tells of fiddler that was caught by the fairies and taught them a different scale to dance to. they were pleased and rewarded him, I think, by removing a hump he had on his back. Can't remember the name if it but will check it out. Any one else know of this tale? Also there is a BBC documentary called "sounds of the stone age" which ,may not be directly linked to your question but is well worth looking for.
cheers
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AlisonPegg
Registered User
(2/13/05 1:43 pm)
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Re: Fairy music, the burrow people, and the pentatonic scale
Thanks Otherworld. I'll look into those references.
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Otherworld
Registered User
(2/13/05 2:18 pm)
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Re: Fairy music, the burrow people, and the pentatonic scale
www.electricscotland.com/..._humph.htm
is a link to a site that tells some very basic versions of it
it is known as "Monday Tuesday" or "Saturday Sunday"
most versions are Scottish but apparently there is a very good irish version.
i know its unlikely you can find it but there was a dramatized version of it in a play done on BBC radio Scotland called "The captains collection"
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Black Sheep
Registered User
(3/18/05 2:36 pm)
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Hebridean Music
Alison, you probably already know this but, Channel 4 is broadcasting a programme on Monday 21st at 8pm about the influence of Hebridean music on Gospel music.
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AlisonPegg
Registered User
(3/19/05 3:42 am)
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Re: Hebridean Music
Thanks for that, Black Sheep. I hadn't noticed that was coming up. I'll definitely look in to it.
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Black Sheep
Registered User
(3/19/05 8:10 am)
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Re: Hebridean Music
Article link:
www.edu-cyberpg.com/NCFR/roots.html
Site with resources including audio clips:
www.gaelicpsalmsinging.com/articles/
I know these aren't exactly what you were asking about but they might lead you on to another more relevant link...
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AlisonPegg
Registered User
(3/19/05 11:45 am)
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Re: Hebridean Music
Yes, excellent stuff. Thanks again for that. I think that Salm recording from Lewis is just fantastic. It's like the voice of the sea... The oral tradition whether it's in the music or in the folktales of a people, or in the language itself (in the Carmina Gadelica for example) seems to preserve the past so much more accurately than any written records.
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tlchang37
Registered User
(3/19/05 11:11 pm)
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Re: Hebridean Music
Mary McLaughlin has recorded a song called "Sealwoman/Yundah". The "Yundah" part is based on a Hebridean chant - juxtaposed over a selkie lament. The overall effect is haunting and compelling.
Does anyone else know of other contemporary uses of Hebridean music/chants?
Tara
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