This track was recorded during a practice inside the abbey on the Isle of Iona, one of the earliest centres of Christianity in Scotland. It is sung by Soisgeul, the only Gaelic language Gospel choir. The song is called St Columba’s Hymn, St Columba being one of the first Irish monks to bring Christianity and the Gaelic language to Scotland.
Ărain Soisgeulach an Eilean Ă (English version following below)
Dhâfhaodte gun deach òrain ann an stoidhle gospel a sgrĂŹobhadh ann an GĂ idhlig. Bâ e sin a thuirt Gareth Fuller a tha na stiĂširiche air diofar chòisirean ann an ceann a deas Shasainn. Gu dearbha cha robh ann ach fealla-dhĂ , ach bha e aâ feuchainn ri rĂ dh gun robh ceòl soisgeulach agus aâ GhĂ idhlig aâ dol còmhla glè mhath. Dhâaidich e gun robh teagamh gu math mòr air dar a chunnaic e an t-eadar-theangachadh an toiseach ge-tĂ .
ThĂ inig timcheall air 50 de mhuinntir âShoisgeulâ còmhla an Eilean Ă air aâ mhĂŹos seo. Chan eil fada bhon a thòisich iad aâ seinn òrain soisgeulach ann an GĂ idhlig. Ach leis nach eil iad stèidhichte ann an Ă ite sònraichte sam bith bha dĂšbhlan romhpa mun t-slighe air adhart. Cha bhi iad aâ cruinneachadh ach dhâfhaodte dĂ thuras sa bhliadhna. Ach an turas seo fhuair iad cuideachadh proifeiseanta. Dhâeadar-theangaich an seinneadair MĂ iri-Anna NicGualraig òrain a tha aithnichte ann an saoghal soisgeulach gu GĂ idhlig. Ged nach eil e furasta eadar-theangachadh a dhèanamh a tha dlĂšth ris aâ chiall agus a tha ag obair a thaobh ruitheam rinn i fĂŹor dheagh obair air.
Bha spòrs air leth againn. Nach e bha math Ăšrnaigh a dhèanamh anns an dòigh seo cuideachd. Cha robh na h-òrain furasta ionnsachadh ge-tĂ . Ach theirinnsa gun robh an Tighearna aâ coimhead sĂŹos oirnn gu fĂ bharrach air sgĂ th is gun tĂ inig aâ ghrian a-mach timcheall air meadhan lĂ agus bha feasgar Ă lainn ann an Eilean Ă. Choisich sinn suas bhon talla, far an robh sinn ag obair fad an lĂ , dhan abaid. Abair fuaim a rinn sinn an sin is sinn cuideachd aâ seinn âSĂŹneadh/ Laoidh Chaluim Chilleâ. Bâ i MĂ iri-Anna a chuir co-sheirm ris agus ged nach bâ e òran soisgeulach a bhâ ann bha e air leth freagarrach ga sheinn ann an Ă ite aig aâ bheil ceangal cho dlĂšth ris an Naomh Chaluim Chille.
Aâ coiseachd air ais dhan talla bha aâ ghrian air a dhol fodha agus aâ ghealach aâ dèarrsadh. Abair sealladh ga faicinn aâ dèarrsadh tro uinneagan tobhta thaigh nan cailleachan-dubha. Bha e mar gun robh na cailleachan-dubha a-staigh agus an solas aca air. Dhâfhaodte gun do chòrd an ceòl san talla ri a thaobh riuthasan cuideachd. ThĂ inig lĂ air leth gu crĂŹch le cèilidh far am facas dannsa gu leòr is eile.
Dhâfhuirich mise ann an taigh-Ăšrnaigh na h-Eaglaise Caitligich air aâ bheil Cnoc aâ Chalmain. Is e Ă ite snog a thâ ann airson beagan fois agus sĂŹth fhaotainn. Tha e suidhichte air cnoc le sealladh eireachdail dhan aâ mhuir. Bha Sr Jean a tha aâ ruith an Ă ite glè fhialaidh gu dearbha, ach dhâinnse i dhomh gu bheil i aâ gluasad gu obair Ăšir agus gun tig cuideigin na h-Ă ite.
Cho-dhĂšn âSoisgeulâ feuchainn ri cuirm a chuir air dòigh aig Celtic Connections na h-ath bhliadhna. Thug na h-òrain seo togail air leth dhomh is iad gam bhrosnachadh mo lĂ n earbsa a chuir anns an Tighearna agus anns na comasan agam fhĂŹn.
Maybe Gospel Songs Were First Written in Gaelic
Those were the words of Gareth Fuller, a well known gospel choir director during a workshop on the Isle of Iona recently. He admits he was puzzled when he first saw the translations of gospel songs into Gaelic, but soon found they worked really well. Not only did the translations by Mary-Ann Kennedy fit perfectly into the rhythm, but they remained true to the original meaning as well.
âSoisgeulâ are a Gaelic gospel choir. They havenât been going for very long and only meet about twice a year as they arenât based in any particular locality. This challenge led some to question the future of the choir. Now they decided they needed some expert gospel training and around 50 people got involved this time round.
The Lord must have enjoyed the singing since the weather turned for the better as the day progressed. In the evening Soisgeul performed their songs inside Iona Abbey. They were so uplifting and really encouraged faith in the Lord and in oneâs own abilities. At night the ruined nunnery was lit up by the moon in a way that it seemed as if the lights were on inside. Maybe the nuns enjoyed the singing, too. The day concluded with a good west coast ceilidh in the village hall.
I stayed at Cnoc aâ Chalmain, Catholic House of Prayer. It is a great place overlooking the sea and very well looked after by Sr Jean. She is leaving soon, but a replacement has now been appointed and so this place of rest and peace will remain open. After the gospel workshop Soisgeulâs conductor, Mary-Ann Kennedy said, they would now aim for a gig at Celtic Connections next year.