Scottish  Gaelic tune as sung by Rhiannon Giddens

Scottish Gaelic tune as sung by Rhiannon Giddens

Backup by Charly Lowry (NC singer-songwriter) "'S iomadh rud tha dhìth orm / Ciamar a nì mi 'n dannsa dìreach' " - an incredible Scottish Gaelic song (mouth music). From a 2014 posting Thanks to Becky Harvey for this question: "How did Rhiannon come to know the gaelic piece she does so beautifully? Also, forgive my ignorance, but are there actually words or is it like the equivalent of scat?" Thanks! I got into Celtic music in general after college (my name is from Welsh mythology, so I'd always been interested in the Celtic lands) and at a Highland Games, I met a professor named Michael Newton (fluent in Scots-Gaelic) who opened my world to the Gaelic language, music, and culture. I met many wonderful Gaelic singers through him (including Talitha MacKenzie and Cathy-Ann MacPhee) and got fascinated by the Gaelic connection in North Carolina. There are indeed words, as well as vocables (wordless syllables picked for their percussive nature): First song: 'S iomadh rud tha dhìth orm (there are many things I would need) A dh'fheumainn fhìn mu'n dèanainn banais (before I arranged a wedding) 'S iomadh rud tha dhith orm (there are many things I would need) A dh'fheumainn fhìn mum pòsainn (before I married) ibhi abhi ubhi abhi (eevee ahvee uvee ahvee) Air do shlàinte a Mhòr a' Cheannaich (your good health, Mor a' Cheannaich) X4 Dòmhnall Dubh an Domhnallaich (black-haired Donald) A-nochd an tòir air Mòr a' Cheannaich (tonight is after Mor a Cheannaich) Dòmhnall Dubh an Domhnallaich (black-haired Donald) A-nochd an tòir air Mòrag (tonight is after Morag) Second song: Ciamar a ni mi a dannsa direach (how can I make a tidy dance) Ciamar a ni mi a ruidhle bòidheach (how can I dance a Bonny Reel) Ciamar a ni mi an dannsa dìreach (how can I make a tidy dance) Dh'fhalbh am prìon a bonn mo chòta (the pin went from the hem of my coat) Dh'fhalbh am prìon a chuir air chlì mi (the pin went and that put me astray) Dh'fhalbh am prìon a bonn mo chòta (the pin went from the hem of my coat) Dh'fhalbh am prìon a chuir air chlì mi (the pin went and that put me astray) Ciamar a ni mi an ruidhle boìdheach (how can I dance a bonny reel) -Rhiannon