A story about forerunners from the late Cape Breton bàrd and tradition bearer Archie Alex MacKenzie (1905-1995). This recording was made at by Liam Ó Caiside during a cèilidh at the home of Joan McWilliams Weiss in October 1991, when MacKenzie was a guest of the US National Mòd organized by An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaga. The night was filled with stories in English and Gaelic and Gaelic songs, some composed by Archie (Mac Eairdsidh Sheumais)himself. This short excerpt was later used in Gaelcast Episode 5, a special Halloween podcast in Scottish Gaelic, available in full at Gaelcast.com.

Gaelcast - How Archie Alex MacKenzie cursed his own forerunner

“Òran a’Mhathain” le Aonghas Caimbeul.  Air a ghabhail le Aonghas MacGill’Fhaolain (Aonghas Dhòmhnaill mhic Dhòmhnaill Ghobha) ás a’Mhira Mhóir.

“Song of the Bear” by Angus Campbell.  Sung by Angus MacLellan of Grand Mira.

Angus Campbell was born in Benbecula in 1815.  His father drowned crossing the ford to South Uist after which young Angus was sponsored by the priest in nearby Ardkenneth.  He was given a good education but nevertheless chose to follow many of his neighbors and immigrated to Cape Breton.  He arrived on the island in 1833 and secured land in the Salmon River area near Mira River.

Angus was well aware of his talents as a bard as he reportedly lamented that he could have earned a wage composing songs in Scotland.  In Cape Breton however he had to content himself with composing as a hobby and eke out a living through physical labour.   His poetry suggests a familiarity with high register language and often makes use of conventions associated with more technical, classical poetry.  The subject matter of his compositions mostly chronicles the events of the day.  He is said to have particularly excelled at poems composed from the point of view of animals.

A well respected fiddler, singer and storyteller, Angus Campbell lead a long life which was rich in culture.  With the exception of “Creach na Samhna”, not many of his songs have remained in the oral tradition, although a number of them have appeared in print.  Angus MacLellan of Grand Mira (nephew of Fàilte Cheap Breatuinn compiler, Vincent MacLellan and grandson of bard Donald “Gobha” MacLellan) was recorded singing a number of his songs.  In the following composition, “Òran a’Mhathain” (Song of the Bear), a settler implores a bear to stay away from his livestock.  The bear complaints about how poorly he is treated by humans.  Bear songs were quite common in pioneer Cape Breton as the creatures posed a real threat to farmers and their livestock. (see p. 86, Gaelic Songs in Nova Scotia)  

To listen to the full recording, see: https://beatoninstitute.com/t-1084 

#Gaidhlig # Gaelic #MiosnaGaidhlig #GaelicNovaScotiaMonth #BrighnaBardachd #LanguageinLyrics #BeatonInstitute #GrandMira

Gaelcast - How Archie Alex MacKenzie cursed his own forerunner

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