Togail an Fhuinn / Precenting

Ann an dualchas nan Gàidheal bidh iomadh seòrsa ciùil ri 'n cluinntinn, ged nach cluinnear iad uile gu tric na làithean. Ma théid duine gu cuirm-ciùil no "ceilidh" mar a chanas iad,  a 's dòcha gur e puirt á beul no òrain luaidh a chluinneas e. Tha sin ciallach gu leòir 'nuair a bhios a' mhór-chuid de na seinneadairean nan luchd ionnsachaidh, agus bidh na h-òrain seo nan òrain a 's fhasa ri ionnsachadh 's ri seinn (no ri seinn air inneal  ciùil) . 'S dòcha gur e sin an t-aobhar nach cluinnear ach a leithid sin gu cumanta.

'S gann a chluinnear na h-òrain mhóra, canntaireachd, pìobaireachd, 's msaa, agus is ro mhór an call sin, o 'n is ann anntasan ('nam bheachd) a gheibhear fìor bheartas 'is bhòichead ar ciùil, agus buadh nam bàrd o shean.

'S e togail an fhuinn aon dhe na seòrsaichean ciùil nach eil a' faighinn àite latha an diugh, ged a bha e air leth làidir ann an dualchas Cheap Breatainn fad móran bhliadhnaichean ann an iomadh àite, agus chìthear buadh a' chiùil seo fad 'is farsuing 'san t-saoghal mhór ann an dualchasan eile.

Anns na h-eaglaisean ann an Ceap Breatainn (mar a tha ann an Alba) dheigheadh aon fhear ainmeachadh mar "fear togail nan salm" . Ghabhadh esan salm mar òran agus fhreagradh an co-thional e leis an aon chuid de dh' fhaclan air fonn eile. Bidh na fuinn gu math sparragach agus dh' fheumadh am fear togail nan salm a bhith 'na sheinneadair air leth math. Chan e a h-uile duine a thaghte 'son an togail idir agus dh' fhaodadh moit mhór a bhith air an duine a chaidh ainmeachadh agus droch shunnd air na daoine nach deach.

An diugh chan eil móran de 'n leithid ann an Ceap Breatainn, agus chan eil ach glé bheag de dhaoine ag ionnsachadh nan salm. Chan e 's nach eil ùigh aig daoine annta mar a dhearbhas togail an fhuinn aig an seirbheas bliadhnail Ghàidhlig a chumar gach Céitein ann an Eaglais Ephraim Scott an Acarsaid a Deas, ach nach eil iad 'gan teasgasg.

'S e mo dhòchas nach téid togail an fhuinn a dhio-chuimhneachadh 's á cleachadh. A bheil sgàth a gheibhear na 's dlùithe fillte ri dualchas nan Gàidheal 's ri 'n creideamh na bhith 'nad shuidhe ann an eaglais ag éisdeachd riutha 's a' gabhail pàirt ann an togail?

**********

In the tradition of the Gaels there are many kinds of songs, although they are not all heard often these days. If a person goes to a concert or "ceilidh" as they say, it's most likely mouth music or milling songs that they hear. That's understandable enough when most of the singers are learners and these are the songs that are easiest to learn and to sing (or to play on a musical instrument). Perhaps that's the reason that only these types are commonly heard.

The "big songs", canntaireachd and pìobaireachd (I don't know how to translate these words without getting into a long explanation.) etc.,are seldom heard and that is a great loss, because it is in them that the true richness and beauty of our songs, and the talents of the old bards can be found.

Precenting is one of the forms of music that isn't finding a place these days, although it was exceptionally strong in the Cape Breton tradition for many years and in many places and it's influence can be seen far and wide in the big world in other cultures.

In the churches in Cape Breton (as in Scotland) one man would be named precentor. That man would sing a psalm and the congregation would answer with the same words to a different tune. The melodies would be quite intricate and the precentor had to be an excellent singer. Not just anyone would be chosen to precent them and there could be a great pride on the person who was named and a resentment on the people who weren't.

Today there isn't much of this in Cape Breton and there are only a very few people learning the psalms. It isn't that there is no interest in them, as the precenting at the annual Gaelic service at Ephraim Scott church in South Haven proves, but that they aren't being taught.

It's my hope that precenting isn't forgotten and gone from practice. Is there anything more closely woven into the traditions of the Gaels and their bellefs than to be sitting in a church listening to them and taking part in their singing?