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Gaelic Literature of the Traditional poets and
songmakers: MacLa
- MacLeod |
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This page is
best viewed on a desktop or laptop PC MACLEAN,
Alexander. See MACILLEATHAIN, Alasdair. ____________ MACLEAN,
Anne. See NICGHILL’EATHAIN, Anna ____________ MACLEAN, The
Bard. See MACILLEATHAIN, Am Bard ____________ MACLEAN,
Donald (b. 1883). See MACGHILL’EATHAIN, Domhnall ____________ MACLEAN,
Donald (20th Century) Donald MacLean was originally from Roag in Skye and later settled in (1) Donald
MacLean. Cuairtear nan Gaidheal. Nine Gaelic Songs and Five Songs in
English. Melodies and Pianoforte
Accompaniments by Andrew J. Orr. There are actually eight Gaelic
songs in this collection. Of these,
all but the first, which celebrates the military prowess of the Gael, are
songs of love and exile. They are
pleasant, fairly light songs. The
metres are based upon traditional models, for the greater part a four stress amhran or cumha. Music is in both
notations. i ‘Cliù na Gillean Gaidhealach’,
pp. 10-11 ii ‘Caisteal nam Fuar Bheann’, pp. 12-13 iii ‘A’ Chailin Bhòidheach’, pp.
14-15 iv ‘Cliù na Cailin Sgiatheannaich’, pp. 16-17 v ‘An t-Eilean Lurach’, pp. 18-19 vi ‘Cuachag nan Sùil Blàth’, pp. 20-21 vii ‘Fear a’ Bhreacain’,
pp. 22-23 viii ‘Ribhinn
a’ Ghleann Uachdair’, pp. 24-25 (2) Donald
MacLean. ‘Eilean mo Rùn’. Sruth (22nd January 1970),
p.7 An exile song, similar to those in
Cuairtear nan Gaidheal. Three four-line stanzas and a refrain,
beginning ‘O seinnibh cliu
do ‘n armunn, gach la be sud mo mhiann’. A note states that it can be sung to the
same air as Màiri Mhór nan ____________ MACLEAN, John
(d. 1878). See MACGILLEATHAIN, Iain (d.
1878) ____________ MACLEAN (or
MACLEOD), John (19th
Century) This poet belonged to Cuidreach. In Place-Names
of Skye (Forbes 1923:130)
there is this entry: “COIRE IOMHAIR, COIR’ IOMHAIR. Ivor’s corry. John
MacLean (or MacLeod), late of Cuidreach, composed a
poem of six double verses to this corry
(1820-1827): ‘Tha coire
shuas ud cho math sa chualas Bho ‘n Bhaca Ruadh gus an ruig e ‘n Cròn’ This poem was published in 1880 or thereabout.” Alexander Forbes was probably
referring to the poem published in The
Highlander (1st September 1877), p. 3 and beginning ‘Mo ghaol Coir’ Iomhair! Bidh h-uile sion ann’.
Here the poet’s name is given as MacLeod. Coire Iomhair
is in the heart of the Trotternish hills. It would appear that John MacLean / MacLeod
composed his poem upon the model of Donnchadh Bàn’s ‘Oran Coire a’ Cheathaich’. ____________ MACLEAN, John
(20th Century?). See MACILLEATHAIN, Iain ____________ MACLEAN,
Mary (18th Century) Mary MacLean, Màiri
Nighean Eoghainn, was a daughter of the fourteenth Laird of Coll. She married in 1761 the Rev. Calum MacAskill of the MacAskills of Rudh’ an Dùnain
in Skye. It is said that Mary’s real
love was a MacLeod of Dunvegan and her family forced her to marry the Rev.
Calum against her will. She and her
husband had a large family and among their great-grandchildren was Frances
Tolmie, the noted collector of Gaelic song.
In addition to the songs noted below, Mary is said
to have composed a lament for her brother Donald who drowned while on a visit
to her in Eigg. (Information from Na Baird Leathanach
(Sinclair 1898:257-258); Clan MacLeod
Magazine, 17 (1951), 25-26; Tocher, 10 (Summer 1973), 65-79; The
Old Songs of Skye (Bassin
1977:5-7); Canna (Campbell 1984:228). ) (1) Mary
MacLean. ‘Duanag
d’ a Brathair’. Na Baird Leathanach: the MacLean Bards. Edited by the Rev. A. MacLean
Sinclair. Vol. 1. A song of welcome, beginning ‘Is a
thighearn’ oig chola’, addressed to her brother Donald when he came to
visit her. Four couplets and a refrain
of mixed vocables and text. (2) ‘Chuir mi suas mo ghùn bainnse’ i Na Baird Leathanach: the MacLean
Bards. Edited by the Rev. A.
MacLean Sinclair. Vol. 1. ii Tocher, 10 (Summer 1973, 66-67. The fragments of a song said to
have been composed by Mary after watching a boat carrying her MacLeod
sweetheart sail past Eigg. In a note in his edition of Eachann Bacach and
other MacLean Poets Professor Colm Ó Baoill quotes from a letter written
by the Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair in 1898 in which he admits to in effect
censoring Mary’s song (Ó Baoill
1979: xxxii-xxxiii)
Fortunately the second version listed includes the lines to
which Rev. Sinclair took exception. It
is included, along with an English translation and a transcription of the
tune, in High MacKinnon’ account of the Rev. Calum MacAskill
and his family (Tocher, 10:65-79). ____________ MACLEAN,
Murdoch (19th Century) This poet was from Knockbreak,
Waternish, Skye. There is a possibility that this poet may
be the same Murchadh MacIlleathain (q.v.) who composed a poem in
praise of the Rev. Donald MacCallum Murdoch
MacLean. ‘Song on the View from A poem which shows the influence
of eighteenth century Gaelic nature poetry, with some good descriptions of
the place’s natural beauty. The poet
concludes by doubting whether even Donnchadh Bàn would be capable of doing justice to Fasach. There are sight eight-line
stanzas, beginning ‘ ‘S mi ‘n am shuidhe
‘n am ònar’.
The metre could be described as
amhran,
although there are some irregularities in the internal rhyme. For a more recent song in praise
of the Fasach district, see Domhnall MacPhilip’s ‘Coille an Fhàsaich’. ____________ MACLEAN,
Sorley. See: Somhairle MacGill-Eain ____________ MACLEOD, - -
- (Early 19th Century) The only information which I have concerning this
poet is that given by William MacKenzie in his introduction to the poem noted
below. The composer was a MacLeod and
he belonged to Raasay. - - -
MacLeod. ‘ ‘S bochd
an naidheachd, ‘s gur brònach’. Skye: Iochdar-Trotternish and District. William MacKenzie. A lament for the victims of a
drowning tragedy. In 1812 a boat with
several people on board was returning from Portree
to Culnacnoc when it struck the Dubh-sgeir, near Rubha nam Bràithrean. Sixteen people were lost and William MacKenzie writes that even
at the time of writing (c. 1930) ‘Bàthadh na Dubh-sgeir’ was spoken of with poignant feeling. The part of the lament given here
was taken down from a ninety year old man.
There are two introductory stanzas and then five of the victims are
named and lamented, stanza by stanza.
With sixteen victims, the original lament could have had up to
nine more stanzas. The metre is a cumha, with
some irregularity of rhyme. ____________ MACLEOD,
Alexander. (Late 18th /
early 19th Century) There is some confusion as to the identity of the
composer of the poem noted and discussed below. He was a MacLeod of Triaslan,
in Skye, but there is disagreement as to whether he was named Alexander or Murdo. I believe
the balance of probability to be slightly in favour of his having been
Alexander. (1) ‘Bha mi fhein ‘s mo mhàthair’ i ‘ ii ‘ 1813, dd. 327-330. iii Alexander
M’Leod. ‘Oran
Sugradh’ le Alasdair Og Thriaslain. Sàr-Obair nam Bàrd Gaelach. Edited
by John MacKenzie. Poem in the form of a dialogue
between a mother and her wayward son who had begotten several children out of
wedlock. Blithely unrepentant, the
young man cites several biblical precedents for his behaviour and a few more
modern ones besides. The composer is not named in the
first two versions listed, John MacKenzie being the first to do so. In a note he writes that the composer was
Alexander, one of the MacLeods of Triaslan in Skye, who emigrated
to MacKenzie’s Sàr-Obair ( I am inclined to believe that MacKenzie’s identification of the poet may be the correct
one, on the basis of two pieces of admittedly very slender evidence In Aberdeen University Library’s copy of Domhnul MacLeoid’s Orain Nuadh Ghaeleach there are pencilled notes in two different hands. The greater number of
these are in one hand and they correspond quite closely to the notes
in Sàr-Obair. The
other hand interpolates the Sàr-Obair
ascription to ‘Alasdair Og Thriaslain’. The second piece of evidence is the ascription
of the third version of the song listed below to ‘Alex. M’Leod,
Triaslan, Skye’.
While I regard this ascription as being doubtful, it might
be regarded as confirmation of the existence of a poet named Alexander
MacLeod of Triaslan. (2) ‘ i ‘ ii ‘ iii Alex. M’Leod. ‘Fhleasgaich Oig’. A’ Choisir-Chiùil. This song is fully discussed in
the section for anonymous poetry and song.
The ascription to Alex. M’Leod of Triaslan with the third version must be treated with
caution. ____________ MACLEOD,
Annie. See MACLEOID, Mrs. Madsair ____________ MACLEOD,
Archibald. See MACLEOID, Gilleasbuig ____________ MACLEOD,
Donald. See: (i)
MACLEOID, Domhnall
(1698-1759); (ii)
MACLEOID, Domhnall
(1787-1873). ____________ MACLEOD,
Cicely (Giles). See NIGHEAN MHIC GHILLE
CHALUIM ____________ MACLEOD,
Jane. See NICLEOID, Sine ____________ MACLEOD,
Janet. See NIGHEAN MHIC GHILLE
CHALUIM ____________ MACLEOD,
John. See MACLEOID, Iain ____________ MACLEOD (or
MACLEAN), John (19th
Century) This poet belonged to Cuidreach. In Place-Names
of Skye (Forbes 1923:130)
there is this entry: “COIRE IOMHAIR, COIR’ IOMHAIR. Ivor’s corry. John
MacLean (or MacLeod), late of Cuidreach, composed a
poem of six double verses to this corry
(1820-1827): ‘Tha coire
shuas ud cho math sa chualas Bho ‘n Bhaca Ruadh gus an ruig e ‘n Cròn’ This poem was published in 1880 or thereabout.” Alexander Forbes was probably
referring to the poem published in The
Highlander (1st September 1877), p. 3 and beginning ‘Mo ghaol Coir’ Iomhair! Bidh h-uile sion ann’.
Here the poet’s name is given as MacLeod. Coire Iomhair
is in the heart of the Trotternish hills. It would appear that John MacLean / MacLeod
composed his poem upon the model of Donnchadh Bàn’s ‘Oran Coire a’ Cheathaich’. ____________ MACLEOD,
Kenneth (1871 – 1955) Born and brought up in Eigg, Kenneth MacLeod was for
some time a lay missionary of the Church of Scotland in various places in the
Highlands and Islands, before being ordained to the ministry and serving in Colonsay and Gigha. He retired in 1947 and died in 1955. (Information from Fasti
Ecclesiae Scoticane, (4: 69; 8: 323; 9: 392).) During his long life the Rev. Kenneth Macleod was in
contact with most of the well-known names in the Gaelic literary world, but
perhaps he is best known as the Gaelic collaborator of Marjory
Kennedy-Fraser. Professor Donald
MacKinnon proposed him as collaborator to Mrs. Kennedy-Fraser and from the
late spring of 1908 he worked with her on the four volumes of Hebridean song detailed below. The nature and results of that
collaboration are discussed in Marjory Kennedy-Fraser’s autobiography A Life of Song (Kennedy-Fraser 1929: 144-153) and in Ethel Bassin’s The Old Songs of Skye: Frances Tolmie and her Circle (Bassin 1977:127-143). On p. 239 of an article in Scottish Gaelic Studies (12:220-265)),
Hamish Robertson quotes Kenneth MacLeod’s own statement that his versions of
songs were put together with a view to harmonious effect. This accords with
the picture which emerges from the first two sources quoted, that the Gaelic
lyrics contained in Songs of the
Hebrides, apart from those actually listed as Kenneth MacLeod’s own
compositions, are the result of a very considerable degree of reworking of
traditional materials. They appear too
to be very much subordinate to Mrs. Kennedy-Fraser’s musical arrangements,
having what Ethel Bassin describes as a ‘period charm’ (Bassin 1977:143). Ethel Bassin appears to believe that Kenneth MacLeod
was a willing collaborator in Marjory Kennedy-Fraser’s treatment of
traditional Gaelic song, a view which would seem to be supported by Hamish
Robertson’s quotation of Kenneth MacLeod’s own words mentioned above. However, in a review of The Old Songs of Skye Professor Colm Ó
Baoill quotes a letter from the late J. L. Campbell in which he told him that
in fact Kenneth was unhappy with what Mrs. Kennedy-Fraser was doing, but was
persuaded by Donald MacKinnon that if he did not stay on someone less
suitable might take his place (Scottish
Gaelic Studies, 12, Pt. 1:142). It is against this background that Kenneth MacLeod’s
own Gaelic song compositions are to be seen.
In style, form and content those in Songs of the Hebrides are, for the most part, virtually
indistinguishable from other material in the series, and indeed it is
possible unrealistic to make a distinction between them and those songs in
which he is designated as editor, collector etc. This difficulty is further compounded by the
ambiguity of some of the ascriptions; ‘words by Kenneth MacLeod’ being
unambiguous enough, but the exact meaning of phrases such as ‘words
contributed by Kenneth MacLeod’ or ‘words from Kenneth MacLeod’ is frequently
unclear. The song lyrics in the Songs of the Hebrides series listed
below are those which are indicated as being of Kenneth MacLeod’s own
composition, either in whole or in part, but for the reasons which I trust
this discussion has made clear, I believe that most of the other material in
the series is relevant to a study of MacLeod as a author of song lyrics. Useful information concerning the Rev. Kenneth
Macleod’s school and later academic career is to be found on pp. 444-446 of
an article by the Rev. T. M. Murchison (TGSI,
52:4-5-459). Entries for the Rev. Kenneth MacLeod are also to be
found in this bibliography in the sections for traditional prose, non-traditional creative prose
and collections of
poetry and song. (1) Marjory
Kennedy-Fraser and Kenneth MacLeod. Songs of the Hebrides: and Other Celtic
Songs from the Highlands of Songs whose lyrics are ascribed to Kenneth MacLeod: i ‘Bruadar Céin’, pp. 23-25 ii ‘Maighdeanan na
h-àiridh’, pp. 32-36 iii ‘Gradh geal mo chridh’, pp. 52-54 (the
last three stanzas are Kenneth MacLeod’s composition) iv ‘Tir-nan-òg’,
pp. 120-123 (2) Marjory
Kennedy-Fraser and Kenneth MacLeod. Songs of the Songs whose lyrics are ascribed to Kenneth MacLeod: i ‘M’ eudail, M’
eudail Mac ‘ic Ailean’,
pp. 19-22 ii ‘Am Buachaille’,
pp. 69-72 iii ‘Long mo Bhruadair’,
pp. 120-124 iv ‘An Triall-Bainnse’,
pp. 125-129 v ‘Eilean mo Chridh’,
pp. 171-177 vi ‘Ruairidh Og’, pp. 185-189 (It is stated that the words are by
Kenneth MacLeod after a poem by Mary MacLeod) vii ‘Aodann Corrabheinn’, pp. 205-211 viii ‘Cronan
an Easa’, pp. 221-224 (3) Marjory
Kennedy-Fraser and Kenneth MacLeod. Songs of the Songs whose lyrics are ascribed to Kenneth MacLeod: i ‘Soills’ an Fheamainn’, pp. 10-12 (part of the longer ‘Sea Moods’,
pp. 8-13) ii ‘Bodach Inneschro’, pp. 40-42 (a joint composition with Marjory
Kennedy-Fraser) iii ‘Co bhios agad, Chairistiona’, pp. 54-55 iv ‘An nochd tha Bàta Dol
gu Cuan’, pp. 66-69 v ‘Cleite Gàdaig’, pp. 110-113 (second and third stanzas by Kenneth
MacLeod) (4) Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Kenneth
MacLeod. From the i ‘Taobh thall a’ Chuilinn’, pp. 26-29 ii ‘Gun cuir sinn nach an Iubhrach’, pp. 30-32 iii ‘Tre Chaol Muile Gaoil’,
pp. 33-35 iv ‘Eilean a’ Cheo’,
pp. 72-73 As well as Gaelic lyrics, Kenneth
MacLeod contributed a considerable amount of English-language material to the
Songs of the Hebrides series by way
of notes, tales, translations of Gaelic lyrics and original English-only compositions. A selection from this material, and from
his contributions to the Celtic Review,
is to be found in his The Road to
the Isles: Poetry, Lore and Traditions of the (5) Coinneach
MacLeòid. ‘Achan
an Deòraidh’. Life
and Work: na Duilleagan Gàidhlig (1912: Aireamh 11), 44. Three stanzas, beginning with ‘Tha càch a’ triall
d’ an àros fein’, in a cumha metre. This poem was reprinted three times in Na Duilleagan
Gàidhlig (1932: Aireamh 5:4; 1940: Aireamh 5:8; 1950: Aireamh
12:8). (6) Coinneach
MacLeòid. ‘Betesda,
Teach na h-Iochd’.
Life and Work: na Duilleagan
Gàidhlig (1913:Aireamh 7), 28. Seven eight-line stanzas,
beginning with ‘Ri taobh Bhetesda mheòraich mi / A liughad ni a dh’ aom’. This poem
was reprinted twice in Na Duilleagan Gàidhlig (1930: Aireamh
10:8; 1932: Aireamh 8:7-8). (7) Coinneach
MacLeòid. ‘Achan
Duthcha’’. Life and Work: na Duilleagan
Gàidhlig (1914: Aireamh 11), 44. Five six-line stanzas, beginning
with ‘A Righ nan Dùl / A
b’ iùl d’ ar daoin’ o chian’. Composed at the beginning of the First
World War, this poem was reprinted twice in na Duilleagan Gàidhlig (1933: Aireamh 5:7; 1940: Aireamh
4:7). (8) Coinneach MacLeòid. ‘An Fhuar-Bheinn’. Tuil: Anthology of 20th Century Scottish
Gaelic Verse. Edited by Ronald M.
Black. A lyrical evocation of home. Three four-line verses beginning ‘A raoir bha mo bhruadar …’. There is a parallel English translation ____________ MACLEOD,
Malcolm. See GILLE CALUM GARBH MAC
GHILLE CHALUIM ____________ MACLEOD,
Mary. See MAIRI NIGHEAN ALASDAIR
RUAIDH ____________ MACLEOD, Mrs.
Major. See MACLEOID, Mrs. Madsair ____________ MACLEOD, Murdo (of Triaslan). See MACLEOD, Alexander (of Triaslan) ____________ MACLEOD, Murdo (the Skye Soldier).
See
MACLEOID, Murchadh ____________ MACLEOD, Neil
(of Clàrsach an
Doire). See MACLEOID, Niall ____________ MACLEOD, Neil
(1825 – 1898). See MACLEOID, Am Madsair Niall ____________ MACLEOD, Norman MacLeod, Tormod Saighdear,
was born at Brunal, Minginish,
in Skye. After serving for a time in
the army he returned to (Information accompanying Norman
MacLeod’s three poems in The Men of
Skye (MacCowan 1902:65-79).) Roderick
MacCowan. The Men of Skye. i ‘Ged bu leamsa Minginish’ This poem’s theme is the supremacy
of the love of Christ over love of the world, here represented by Minginish with all its natural beauty. It is interesting to compare it with
secular poems of homeland and exile.
There is an English translation. Only twelve lines are given:
arranged in an eight-lined and a four-line stanza. ii ‘Ochan Fhir mhoir co tha urad ruit?’ Two lines were all that Roderick
MacCowan was able to glean of a hymn which Tormod Saighdear
composed about the Saviour. iii ‘Gur mise tha gu
truagh’ Composed when he and his fellow
teacher, Alexander Munro, were in Minginish (op.
cit., pp. 156-157). There are three
six-line stanzas in a form of strophic verse. ____________ MACLEOD, Norman MacLeod was the eldest son of Donald MacLeod,
‘Gobha Shuardail’, tacksman of Swordale in
Skye. Licensed to preach by the Presbytery
of Skye in 1771, he was ordained as minister of Morvern
in 1775. He was an eloquent preacher
in Gaelic. His second eldest son, also
Norman, was the famous ‘Caraid nan Gaidheal’. (Information from Gaelic Bards from 1775 to 1825 (Sinclair 1896:11); ‘The MacLeods of Morvern’ by ‘Fionn’
(Celtic Monthly, 16:145-146); Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticane (Scott 1923:117).) (1) ‘Tha sgeula ri
aithris’ i ‘ ii Tormaid Mac Leoid. ‘Suiridh Ruari’. The Gaelic Bards from 1775 to 1825. Edited by the Rev. A. MacLean
Sinclair. It will be noted that the first
version is not ascribed to the Rev. Norman MacLeod. However, Magnus MacLean, writing some four
years before the publication of the second version, ascribes this poem to
him, as well as the one noted and discussed below (Highland Monthly, 4:754). There is no indication as to the
identity of the Ruairidh to whom the poem is
addressed and the poet’s attitude to him is ambivalent. The second version shows some textual
variations from the first, but it seems likely that the Rev. A. MacLean
Sinclair used the Eigg Collection as his source. There are four twelve-line
stanzas. The metrical structure is
complex, with elements of both strophic and quatrain forms. (2) ‘ This begins as the song of a
departing exile, and then becomes a praise song for MacLeod of Talisker. This
must be Colonel MacLeod, IV of Talisker, who died
in 1798. Colonel MacLeod is the
subject of a lament by Raonull
Domhnullach, Raonull Mac Iain ‘ic Eobhainn. It will be noted that this poem is
unascribed in the Eigg Collection, but Captain
Simon Fraser gives the tune as No. 161 in his Airs and Melodies …, and in a note ascribes the poem to the Rev.
MacLeod (Fraser 1816: 76,
115). Magnus MacLean also ascribes it
to him (Highland Monthly, 4:754). There are five twelve-line
stanzas, beginning ‘Mi am shuidhe
an deiridh bàtaigh’. Each stanza has three four-line units with
a strophic construction. ____________ MACLEOD,
Paul. See POL CRUBACH ____________ MACLEOD,
Roderick (19th Century) Brother of Major Neil MacLeod (q.v.). Composer of poem ‘Glaodh
nan Croitearan’.
Informant of Magnus MacLean when the latter was researching his ‘Skye
Bards’ (Highland Monthly,
5:99). I have been unable to trace
publication of ‘Glaodh nan Croitearan’. ____________ |
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A-C D-Domhnall Domhnallach-Dz E–G H–L M–MacA MacB–MacC MacD MacE-MacK, MacLa-MacLeod MacLeòid A-H MacLeòid I-Z MacM-MacN MacO-MacZ M N O-Q R-Z Annie Arnott An Cabairneach Carmina Gadelica
Catriona
Dhùghlas Tormod Domhnallach Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Angus Lamont K. N. MacDonald Johan MacInnes Hugh MacKinnon Calum I. MacLean Sorley MacLean Kenneth MacLeod Niall MacLeòid Màiri
Nighean Alasdair Cairistiona
Mhàrtainn Alexander Morison Kenneth Morrison Angus Nicolson Portree
HS Magazine Lachlann
Robertson Frances Tolmie I Frances Tolmie II Somhairle
MacGill-Eain The New Poetry Books
etc: A-L Books etc: MacA-MacL Books etc: MacM-Z Periodicals, MSS, AV |
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© Sabhal Mòr Ostaig 2018