An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 49--51, January 1954--December 1956

Kook Keviens
An t-Eilthireach . Original Gaelic Poems
and Melodies. By Major C. I. N. Macleod,
Nova Scotia, 43pp.
Here are sixteen of Calum I. N. Macleod’s
own compositions, some of them with melodies.
“Long Mo Bhruadair’’ became a favourite
almost on first hearing, and several more of the
songs in this booklet .deserve to become popular.
Mr. Macleod has marked poetic gifts and is a
master of language. To quote Dr. D. J.
Macleod’s foreword, “These songs, with
their delicacy, taste, and grace of form, will
always inspire interest for the Gaels themselves,
and to those of Gaelic stock they open the inner
doors, and admit to the Gaelic hearth as it was
and still is.’’ We are proud to number Mr.
Macleod among the Crowned Bards of the
National Mod.
Griasaiche Bhearnaraidh . A Bhardachd,
le lomradh Air. Le Niall Mac-an-Tuairneir.
24t.d. 2/6.
Chaochail Ailean MacLeoid, Griasaiche
Bhearnaraidh na Hearadh, an 1939, agus is
maith a rinn Mgr. Mac-an-Tuairneir gun do
chruinnich e agus gun do chuir e an clo pairt de
na laoidhean a rinn e. Bha breithneachadh
spioradail agus geurad inntinn anns a’
Ghriasaiche, agus bha alt math aige air
rannaigheachd. Is airidh an leabhran seo a
cheannach is a leughadh.
Johnston’s Clan Histories. (W. & A. K.
Johnston, Edinburgh, 5/- each).
Nine of these splendid little books have now
been published. The first two—Clan Donald
and Clan Fraser—were reviewed in these pages
some time ago. The other seven, which we
now have pleasure in commending, are (taking
them alphabetically, to avoid any awkwardness
about precedence!): Clan Cameron (“A
Patriarchy Beset’’), by C. I. Fraser of Reelig;
Clan Campbell (“Record of Service by a Race
of Statesmen’’), by Andrew McKerral; Clan
Chisholm, by Dr Jean Dunlop; Clan Macgregor
(“The Nameless Clan’’), by W. R. Kermack;
Clan Mackay (“A Celtic Resistance to Feudal
Superiority’’), by Margaret O. Macdougall;
Clan Mackenzie (“Independence in the North’ ’),
by Dr Jean Dunlop; and Clan Macleod (“With
Their Rock-Built Fortress They Have
Endured ’ ’) Jay Dr. I. F. Grant.
Each book runs to a little over thirty pages,
succinctly outlines the origin and history of
each clan, and gives useful information about
arms, tartans, septs, clan music, and other
items of great interest. There are drawings,
maps, and Coloured plates. All the authors
have done their work well, within the small
space allowed them, and the printers also
deserve to be complimented on the production
of these attractive little books.
The Scots Year-Book, 1953-54. Edited by
T. Athol! Robertson, F.S.A.Scot. 2/6.
This marvel of much information in little
bulk makes its 48th appearance, and Mr.
Robertson is deserving of the highest praise for
having continued so great and useful a work
for so long a time, and, furthermore, despite
greatly increased costs, at so low a price. The
Scottish, Highland, and Gaelic societies
throughout the world, listed here in their
hundreds, continually increase in number.
They may be found, not only in England and
in the great countries of the Commonwealth and
in the United States, but also in Malaya,
Kenya, Hong Kong, South America, and many
another place. The book contains, also, a
large number of interesting articles, not the
least important that which gives hints on how
to run a “ceilidh.’’ Eschew cocktails, but
serve hot soup to your guests before they
depart!
Tutor for Highland Bagpipe, Part I.
The College of Piping, Kelvin House, 27 Otago
Street, Glasgow, W.2. 69pp. 7/6.
Neil Munro, repeating authentic Highland
tradition, declared that the making of a piper
took seven years, and even then the piper
would only be at the beginning of learning. It
is commonly believed that, physically and
otherwise, the bagpipe is an unusually difficult
instrument to play. This Tutor should go far
to dispel that belief. This is a ‘ ‘self-tutor, ’ ’
and it seems to us that the learning of bagpipe
playing—in its early stages, at least—is here
made as plain as it possibly can be. Excellent
photographs and diagrams, lucid instructions
by expert tutors, and a course of 26 lessons, go
to make an excellent First Course, by the end
of which the learner should be able to play at
least 14 tunes, here given. There are interesting
notes on the history of the bagpipe, and on the
buying, care, and maintenance of the practice
chanter. Mr. Seumas MacNeill and Mr.
Thomas Pearston, and those associated with
them, have done a very great service in pro¬
ducing this book. We know that The College
of Piping has already done great things, and
greater things are still to come.
Am fear nach cuir ri la fuar,
Cha dean e buain ri la teth.