Ciamar a tha an t-seachdain agad a’ dol gu ruige seo? Bho àm gu àm, tha e a’ còrdadh rinn a bhith a’ toirt sùil air rudan iongantach a tha air tachairt tro eachdraidh. ’S e an t-Iuchar a th’ ann a-nis... a bheil cuimhne agad fhèin air tachartasan sònraichte sam bith a tha air tachairt sa mhìos seo? Lorg sinn fhèin rud no dhà a bha glè inntinneach

How’s this week going so far? From time to time, we enjoy looking at interesting things which have happened throughout history. It’s July now... do you remember any significant events which have happened during this month? We’ve found a couple of interesting things

Eachdraidh an Iuchair | History of July

Haidh a charaid,
Tha sinn an dòchas gu bheil thu gu math! Cha mhòr nach eil an samhradh seachad a-nis. Ciamar a tha thu a’ faireachdainn mu dheidhinn? Tha sinne a’ smaoineachadh gun deach e seachad ann am priob na sùla! Tha mìosan romhainn a-nis de dh’oidhcheannan fada, dorcha. Nach eil e inntinneach a bhith a’ coimhead air speur na h-oidhche? Tha a’ ghealach is na rionnagan a’ coimhead cho faisg, ach a’ faireachdainn cho fada air falbh. Chan eil e an-còmhnaidh furasta bruidhinn air na speuran sa Ghàidhlig, oir chan eil cuid de na faclan tric a’ nochdadh ann an còmhradh làitheil. Mar sin, tha sinn an dòchas gum bi na seantansan seo nan cuideachadh dhut: 
Gealach | Moon – Nach eil a’ ghealach a’ coimhead faisg a-nochd? | Doesn’t the moon look close tonight? 
Reul-chearbach | Comet – Seall, tha reul-chearbach thall an sin! | Look, there’s a comet over there!
Fànas | Outer Space – Nuair a bha mi na b’ òige, bha mi airson siubhal chun fhànais. | When I was younger, I wanted to travel to outer space. 
Reul-bhad | Constellation - Chan eil mi riamh air reul-bhad fhaicinn, ach ’s dòcha gum bi cothrom agam a-nochd. | I’ve never seen a constellation, but I might get the opportunity tonight. 
Na Fir-chlis – The Northern Lights | Fhuair mi dealbh sgoinneil de Na Fir-chlis a-raoir! | I got an excellent photo of the Northern Lights last night!
Rionnag | Star – Cia mheud rionnag a th’ anns a’ chruinne-chè? | How many stars are in the universe?
Planaid – Planet | 'S e Neaptun a' phlanaid as fhaide air falbh bhon ghrèin. | The planet furthest away from the sun is Neptune. 
Slighe Chlann Uisnich | The Milky Way – Tha sinne anns an t-Slighe Chlann Uisnich... am badeigin! | We’re in the Milky Way... somewhere! 
An Talamh | Earth - Tillidh an rocaid dhan Talamh a-màireach. | The rocket will return to Earth tomorrow. 
Gus èisteachd ri na faclan seo is gu leòr a bharrachd, thèid gu LearnGaelic.scot > Reifreans > Fichead Facal is tagh Na Speuran.
Seadh a-nis... a bheil dealbhan shnoga sam bith agadsa de Na Fir-chlis? Ma tha, dh’fhaodadh tu an cur thugainn le post-d no air na meadhanan sòisealta againn! 
Sin e airson seachdain eile. Bho do charaidean aig LearnGaelic, mar sin leat.

Fànas | Outer Space

Brackish is a site-specific environmental sound installation and live real-time continual broadcast. A single hydrophone placed within a fishing creel (functioning both as protective enclosure and microphone shock mount) records the daily activity of a sea loch adjacent to the port of Lochmaddy on the island of North Uist.

The microphone is strategically located behind the small island of Eilean Casaig at a confluence of edge habitats between the industrial port, connecting marine traffic to the Minch, and the tidal sea lochs which extend into uninhabited natural lands. Among the tidal ebb and flow of currents anthropogenic sounds of seaweed harvesting, ferry traffic, and fishing boats compete with natural sounds of the marine habitat of the bay.

Meireal (Brackish) Archive of live radio broadcast from June 19th 2019.

I’m delighted to announce the premiere of my latest work, Ceilearadh, at the Piping Live Festival on Thursday 14th August at 1:30pm in the Bothy tent. This collection of three Highland Bagpipe Sonatas represents something genuinely new in the piping repertoire – extended compositions that bridge traditional and contemporary approaches whilst drawing deeply from our Gaelic heritage.

Special Thanks

I must begin by expressing my gratitude to Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig (the Gaelic Arts Fund) whose generous support made this project possible. Their funding allowed me to undertake essential research in South Uist, working alongside Gaelic speakers and tradition bearers to ensure these compositions are rooted in authentic cultural understanding.

My thanks also go to Mairi MacMillan, whose knowledge of traditional Gaelic culture and bird lore proved invaluable. Coming from an indigenous Gaelic family where birds were integral to daily life – marking seasons, protecting animals, and indicating appropriate times for harvesting around nesting patterns – Mairi shared not just the poetry itself, but the lived cultural context that gave these verses their meaning.

About Ceilearadh

Each sonata draws inspiration from historic Gaelic poetry about birds, creating a unique bridge between Scotland’s ancient literary traditions and contemporary musical expression. The three works – lasting 10-12 minutes each – are written from a bagpiper’s perspective but extend beyond conventional ceòl mòr, incorporating bagpipe techniques and movements in new ways.

The three sonatas are based on these traditional poems:

A’ Chearc (The Chicken)
Tog, tog, tog,
Tog an rud a dh’fhàg mi,
Ge beag an t-ugh, ge beag an t-ugh,
Tha stà ann, tha stà ann.

Rug, rug, rug a dhà,
Rug, rug, rug a dhà;
Gog, gog, gog, gog, gog, gog, gaog,
Beiridh mise h-uile là,
‘S cha bheir an crodh-laoigh.

A’ Bhuidheag (The Yellowfinch)
A Bhuidheag bhuidhe bhòidheach,
Bheir mise latha Dòmhnach
A’ sguabadh do sheòmair”,
Ars a’ chearc bhuidhe ghòrach.

An Trìlleachan san Tràigh (Oystercatcher on the Shore)
Och, is och, is och mo dhunaidh,
Mis an so an cois na tuinne,
Is mi gun bhuille de’n t-snàmh.

These compositions explore the intersection of nature, language, and music, translating the rhythms and calls of birds as captured in traditional Gaelic verse into extended musical forms. Whilst respecting the deep traditions of Highland piping, the works push creative boundaries to offer something genuinely fresh in the bagpipe literature.

The Performance

The premiere will feature three brilliant pipers, each performing one sonata:

Simon McKerrell performing A’ Bhuidheag
Fionnlagh Mac A Phiocair performing A’ Chearc
Bede Patterson performing An Trìlleachan san Tràigh
The performance follows a discussion about expanding piobaireachd’s horizons, hosted by Josh Dickson and Barnaby Brown, making it part of a broader conversation about the future of our piping traditions.

A' Chearc - Fionnlagh Mac A Phiocair

"Duo for Flute and Piano - III. Lively, with bounce", by Aaron Copland.
The 3rd movement of the American composer's masterpiece for flute and piano.
Flute: Grace Walker
Piano: Julia Lynch
Recorded at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Jazz Studios, Glasgow.
2015

3rd Year BMus Performance Folio Recording

Duo for Flute and Piano - III. Lively, with bounce

Bella The Elephant
Composed by Tina Jordan Rees
Performed by Tina Jordan Rees

For the elephant who lives in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.

www.tinajordanrees.com

Kristina Rees's Album

Bella The Elephant - Tina Jordan Rees

Miss Maisie Milligen
Composed by Tina Jordan Rees
Performed by Tina Jordan Rees

Composed for James Gillies as a reward for his pledge towards funding 'A Delicate Game' - the debut album by Top Floor Taivers.

www.tinajordanrees.com
www.topfloortaivers.com

Miss Maisie Milligen - Tina Jordan Rees

A live piano recording of the open Irish set dance, Planxty Davis. 
Performed by Tina Jordan Rees

www.tinajordanrees.com

Planxty Davis - Live Piano Version

MRS Macleod Of Gesto.WAV

I am a folk musician who likes my music to bend round corners. If you like my music please support my Patreon http://www.patreon.com/simonthoumire