Ossian Collection > Macdonald bards from mediaeval times

10. " Spaidsearachd Dlionuill Ghruamaicli,"*—
Donald Gmamach of Sleat's lament for the death
of his elder brother.
11. " Leannan Dlionuill Ghruaniaich" (Grim
Donald's sweetheart.)
12. " A' Ghlas-Mheur,"— the finger-lock, on
account of the intricacy of the grace notes render-
ing it more difficult to play than ordinary
pibrochs, composed by RaonuU Mac Ailein Oig,
one of the MacDonalds of Morar.
13. "Gill Chriosda," — Glengarry's March,
played by Glengarry's piper at the b\irning of the
church of " Gill Chriosda," or Christ's Church-
where a number of people had taken refuge — in
revenge for the murder of Aonghas a Ghaoil,t of
the Glengarry family, by the Culloden people.
14. " Blàr Sròn " commemorates a desperate
conflict between the MacDonells of Glengarry, and
MacKenzies, at a place so called in Western Ross.
15. " Cumha na Piuthar,"— the sister's lament
for the sons of Donald Glas XI. of Keppoch, who
were murdered by the next in succession.
16. " Fàilte Fir Bhoisdail,"— a salute to
Alastair Mor MacDonald, first of Boisdale, upon
his taking possession of the estate.
17. " Cruinneachadh Chlann Raonuill," — the
gathering of the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald to
the battle of Sheriftmuir, in 1715, where the chief
Avas slain.
18. " Cumha Raonuill Mhic Ailein Oig," —
Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar.
19. " Cumha Mhic Mhic Alastair,"— Glen-
garry's lament, by Archibald Munro.
20. " A' Bhòilich," J— the Vaunting, by Ronald
MacDonald of Morar.
21. " Cumha Bhan-Tighearna Mhic Dhomhn-
uill," — Lady MacDonald's lament, by Angus
MacArthur.
22. " A Mhic Iain Mhic Sheumais,"— celebra-
ting a battle between the MacDonalds and Mac-
Leods. There is also a fine " oran luaidhe " to
the same when wounded, and sung to drown his
moans.
23. " Blàr-lèine," — the shirt battle, fought at
Kinloch Lochy between the Frasers of Lovat and
MacDonalds of Clan Ranald and Keppoch, and so
called from the parties having stripped to their
shirts.
24. " Cumha Fear-Foghluim nanDòmhnullach,"
— the MacDonald's tutor lament.
* MacDonald's " Martial Music of Scotland.'
t Aonghas a choile Lagan, Vol. II.
{ Angus MacKay's Collection of Ancient Pibrochs.
25. " An Cath Gailbheach,"— the desperate
battle fought at the Cuchullin Hills, Isle of Skye,
between the MacDonalds and MacLeods.
26. " La Blàr Druim-Thalasgar," the battle of
Waternish, fought between the Uist MacDonalds
and MacLeods of Skye.
27. There is also a fine lament,"called " the
Chieftains," to which words are sung, on the
unfortunate death of the Colonel of Glengarry's
regiment, who fell in the streets of Falkirk after
the victory over the Royal troops in January,
1746, by the accidental discharge of the gun of
one of Clan Ranald's men.
28. Besides the pibroch for the Keppoch tragedy,
" Cumha na piuthar," there is a slow pathetic
song of three uneriual measures, called "A
Cheapaich 'na fasaich," Keppoch desolate — and
29. "Blàr Mhaol Ruaidh," or "Thug clann
Dòmhnuill am liruthach orr'," to the battle of
Mulroy, the last clan battle fought in the High-
lands, in 1688.
30. There is also a Keppoch gathering called
" An tarbh breac-dheirg" which resulted from the
following incident : — On one occasion one of the
Keppoch chiefs visited Locheil on some business,
when the latter, who had an old score to settle,
loosed a furious bull which he hoped would kill
Keppoch, but the tables were turned, as Keppoch
killed the bull. The pibroch begins :—
'Se an tarbh breac deirg,
'Se an tarbh breac deirg,
'Se an tarbh breac deirg a niharbh mi.
31. Alex. MacDonald's (" Mac-Allisdrum's)
March" was composed by Alexander MacDonald,
who commanded a party of Highlanders in the
Irish service under Lord Taafe, at the engage-
ment with the Parliament army, near Mallow, on
the 13th of November, 1647.
32. There is also a " Cumha Fear Ceann Loch-
Muidart," to MacDonald of Kinloch Moidart, in
Ross's Collection, and several marches to Mac-
Donalds— and last but not least (33) " Flora Mac-
Donald's lament for Prince Charlie."
In Major-General Thomson's elaborate work
there are the following additional MacDonald
pibrochs : —
34. Angus MacDonald's Assault—" lonnsaidh
Aonghais Bhig Mhic Dhomhnuill."
35. Lady Margaret MacDonald's salute —
" Fàilte Ban-Tighearna Mhic Dhomhnuill."
36. Cumha Morair Chlann Dòmhnuill.
37. "Cumha an RidireSeumas Mac Dhomhnuill,
nan Eilean," Lament for Sir James MacDonald of
the Isles, by C. MacArthur.