beul by Bradley Murphy
breathing new life into traditional gàidhlig songs: showcasing relevance and beauty.
bradley murphy is a gàidhlig singer, fiddler, and multi-instrumental musician from east bay, unama’ki – cape breton, nova scotia. he belongs to a heritage of gaels who have been living in mi’kmaw territory as early as 1824. through his work in the community and with his music, he is breathing new life into traditional gàidhlig songs and tunes: showcasing relevance and beauty.
the songs i am sharing on this album are close to my heart. some have been learned by tradition bearers in my community, and in song sharing circles both in unama’ki, cape breton and in the western isles of scotland. some of the songs are learned from archival recordings of singers in my community, giving me knew awareness ofmy heritage, where i come from, and why i wish to keep them alive. gaelic singers are not commonly on-stage starlets in the spotlight. it is quite common for farmers, butchers, bus-drivers and very un-assuming individuals to be song carriers as the songs hold the collective consciousness ofa community, recounting histories and important stories and have a social function: to mourn, to heal, to celebrate, and to dance.
b e u l
1. mouth
2. beginning 3. opening
n./biaL/gaelic
beul nan gàidheal
beul na draoidheachd
beul nan òrain, beul nan naidheachd beul èibhinn, beul an ruitheim
beul na mara, beul a’ chridhe
sin an seòrsa ‘àrd-togalach’ againn
the mouth of a gael
the mouth of magic
the mouth of wisdom
the mouth of songs, the mouth of stories the mouth of humour, the mouth of rhythm the mouth of the sea, the mouth of the heart that’s our version of ‘skyscrapers’
b r a d l ey m u r p h y. www.bradleymurphy.ca
Tracklist
| 1. | air fàillirinn iù | 5:57 |
| 2. | carson a mhol thu móirthir mhosach? | 3:36 |
| 3. | mo nighean donn as bòidhche | 2:19 |
| 4. | cuir a-nall | 3:22 |
| 5. | fair a la la o ro hu a | 3:09 |
| 6. | hù o ro hù o | 3:05 |
| 7. | leis a' mhaighdinn | 4:15 |
| 8. | dh’éirich mi moch madainn cheòthar | 3:14 |
| 9. | mo nigh'n donn ho gu | 3:39 |
| 10. | ailein duinn o hi | 4:28 |
| 11. | niel gow's lament for the death of his second wife | 3:13 |
Credits
geoff livingston | living~stone
recording engineer + music production + creative input and collaboration + initial mixing
tracks: carson a mhol thu móirthir mhosach/ mo nighean donn as bòidhche/ cuir a-nall/fair a la la o ro hu a/ leis a' mhaighdinn/ dh’éirich mi moch madainn cheòthar/ mo nigh'n donn ho gu/ niel gow's lament for the death ofhis second wife
snappy homefry | playhouse studio
mixing + mastering
tracks: carson a mhol thu móirthir mhosach/ mo nighean donn as bòidhche/ cuir a-nall/ fair a la la o ro hu a/ leis a' mhaighdinn/
dh’éirich mi moch madainn cheòthar/ mo nigh'n donn ho gu/ niel gow's lament for the death of his second wife
jamie foulds | soundpark studios
mixing + mastering
tracks: 1 air fàillirinn iù/6 òran na maighdinn mhara/10 ailein duinn o hi
jason rudderham
double bass on ailein duinn o hi
paul mcniell + jacques mindreau
photography (cover+ album art)
julia kater
website + graphic design
tamara kater
management + grant writing support
bradley murphy (me)
recording/arranging/ vocals/ piano/ fiddle/ bodhran
tracks recorded by bradley: air fàillirinn iù/òran na maighdinn mhara/ ailein duinn o hi/ hù o ro hù o
all of the songs on this album are traditional gàidhlig, except ‘neil gows lament of the death of his second wife’ written by
nathanial gow in 1805 .
mòran taing airson mo chuideachadh leis a’ chànan agus a’ cheòl | thanks to you who have helped me with language, cultural and music learning
sionainn ni'n aonghais iain/ òmar bhochanan/ eamag dhòmhnullach/ carman nicartair/ bearnag chaimbeul/ màiri britton/ màiri bheathag/ brù-dhearg nic toiseach caragan/ annag krebs/ morgan toney/ oonig ward/ jeff ward/ màiri sìne niclaomuinn/ frangag niceachainn/ cairistìona primrose/ steiseag nicilleathain/ aonghas macleòid/ lodaidh séasonach-fionghuineach/ rose morrison/ peter leblanc/ nicole deveaux/ tara lewis/ lauchie gillis/ norma jean macphee/ florence sampson/ allie kehoe/ francie gillis/ gary and arlene vassallo/ clare gillis/ mary macdougall/ and most ofall my family: carol, tom, and Tyler murphy
thanks to supportive organizations cbmic, music nova scotia, factor, cbc radio, gaelic affairs
