An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Deo-gréine > Volume 16, October 1920-September 1921

188
AN DEO-GREINE.
opinions. The best of the youth of our time
in the Highlands are being highly educated
in schools that can now hold their own
against any schools that are lauded else¬
where. The broadening effect on their
minds, instead of driving them to despise
their mother tongue has produced the
opposite result. They probably realise that
knowledge of Gaelic cannot possibly be
detrimental to their success in life, and that
it is as easy to carry as a knowledge of
French or Latin.
We have, on several occasions, said in the
pages of this Magazine, that music is the
handmaid of the language, and that to ignore
song is to cast aside the most important
aid to the development of Gaelic. The one
must not be divorced from the other. It
was, therefore, a happy idea on the part of
the Glasgow Skye Association, aided
financially by two of their members, now
well known for their generosity, Mr. D.
Macleod of Skeabost and Mr. Angus Robert¬
son, Glasgow, Vice-President of An
Comunn Gaidhealach, to organise singing
competitions. No doubt other members
lent their aid also. It is a pleasure to record
that the natives in the surrounding districts
lent their support, and thus contributed to
make the functions such an outstanding
success. Let us hope that means may be
found for continuing these competitions, so
that it may not be said by the enemy that
this was a mere flash in the pan for one
season.
As we pen those lines, our recollection
goes back to a period sixty years ago, when
influences, no doubt well meant, were suffi¬
ciently strong to render competitions in
“vain songs’’ futile. But “the whirlgig of
Time brings in his revenges. ” The world’s
outlook has changed, and “the thoughts of
men are widened with the process of the
suns. ’’
The competition held on the 13th of July
took place in the hall of Armadale Castle,
kindly lent by Lady Macdonald for the occa¬
sion. During the previous three weeks Mr.
Hugh Maclean, the Comunn’s teacher cf
music, conducted singing classes in
different parts of the parish of Sleat prepara¬
tory to the competition. The hall_ was
comfortably filled with an appreciative
audience presided over by the Hon. Iona
Macdonald. That the school children were
keenly interested in the competition was
evident from the gratifying number of
entrants—the greater number coming a
distance of 8 miles—and that their perform¬
ance reflected the highest credit on Mr.
MacLean as an able teacher is also evident,
especially when the short time at his dis¬
posal for tutoring is taken into consideration.
In the senior competition the number of
entrants was less, but the competition was
not less keenly contested.
The judges were Miss Macrae, Kyle, and
Mr. Murchison, Factor, Balmacara, whose
unbiassed decisions have given entire
satisfaction.
After the competitions a programme of
Gaelic and English songs and instrumental
music was gone through. Everybody was
delighted. The proceedings terminated
with votes of thanks to Lady Macdonald,
the Hon. Iona Macdonald, the judges, Mr.
Maclean, and the Skye Association and the
Comunn Gaidhealach.
The final of the competitions took place
at Portree towards the end of July. The
adjudicators were Mr. Roderick Macleod,
Inverness; Mr. Alex. Murchison, Portree;
and Miss Rhoda Macleod, Inverness.
There was a crowded audience in the Skye
Gathering Hall. The competitors gave
excellent renderings of the test pieces, and
the audience were highly appreciative.
The meeting was, in all respects, a highly
successful one.
In the evening a Gaelic and English
concert was held in the same hall under the
chairmanship of Mr. Angus Robertson,
Kinloch. As is well known, Mr. Robertson
is a rousing and effective speaker in either
Gaelic or English, and in his opening
remarks caught the ear of his audience at
the very outset. He roused their
enthusiasm to a pitch of fervour which
augurs well for the Gaelic cause in Skye.
Mr. Roderick Macleod, as might be
expected, delighted his audience, some of
whom had travelled miles to hear him.
Miss Rhoda Macleod also gave fine render¬
ings of some of our melodies. Mr. Calum
Stewart and Mr. Peter M. Maclean, two
Glasgow Skye singers, were warmly encored.
Praise is due to Mr. Roderick Mackenzie,
whose Gaelic choir gave such a good account
of themselves.
A very successful dance closed the pro¬
ceedings. Mr. Macleod of Skeabost provided
the prizes. The proceeds of the concert,
amounting to over £40, go to the funds of
An Comunn Gaidhealach,