Canntaireachd

[OC Richard]

In 1816 a piping competitor brought forward for the inspection of the judges

a folio volume in manuscript, said to contain numerous compositions; but the contents merely resembling a written
narrative, in an unknown language, nor bearing any resemblance to Gaelic...

However Murdoch MacLean, a pipe-maker from Glasgow, offered to decipher the manuscript...his proposal received no encouragement, and the owner refused to part with the volume, which gave me much regret.

General Dalyell's Musical Memories

Like a piper of old, I can stand here on a green knoll
in a yellow fog, out of the field of the fray
and incite people to battle
with the strange words of the Isles

Hiodroho hodroho haninen hiechin
Hodraha hodoho hodroho hachin

JF Campbell, Islay

These quotes refer to Canntaireachd (chanting) which was the ancient musical notation of the Ceol Mor (great music, usually called nowadays Piobaireachd). It remains in use today, and is still regarded as the best way to teach and learn Ceol Mor.

Here is canntaireachd being sung along with the pipes, with Closed Captioning so to speak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCHRQuITwWs

Here are pipes, orchestra, and singer performing piobaireachd with canntaireachd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljrz0GhQgs8

Here is the great uilleann piper and pipe-maker Tim Britton singing Crònan na Caillich 's Bheinn Bhric (the croon of the old hag of the speckled mountains) with a drone provided by the audience, quite cool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM-laV7W5KA