Taken from their ECMA-nominated sophomore album, South Haven, the Celtic trio of Ben Miller, Anita MacDonald, and guitarist Zakk Cormier have released a new performance video for their version traditional Gaelic song “Alasdair nan Stòp”. Coincidently, it may be the only recorded version of the tune in modern history, giving the band the opportunity to geek out over how choose to interpret it.
In the midst of studying at the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh, Miller found “Alasdair nan Stòp,” in the Eliza Ross Manuscript from 1812. From the small island of Raasay, the tune apparently came with very little other context, but plenty of clue as to what it might be.
“As far as we know, this song has never been recorded,” says Ben.
“The song was listed as a jig in the original manuscript, but it was peculiarly written in 3/4 time. Initially we thought it might have been mislabeled, and could have been a triple-hornpipe, which is a type of tune popular in the Lowlands of Scotland. With no notated tempo or recordings to reference, it was hard to know for sure what the original compiler might have meant for this peculiar little tune. We later realized that the words fit perfectly in a hop-jig rhythm, a type of tune more typical of the parallel Irish Gaelic song tradition, but not usually seen in the Scottish tradition as we know it today.”
The curiosities of the song have made it somewhat hard to place, yet the band feel it might provide hints to the musical interplay between the two Gaelic cultures of Scotland and Ireland.
“One of the biggest themes running through the entirety of our last album was the connection between the Gaelic language and the instrumental tradition, as realized both in Scotland and Cape Breton,” says MacDonald.
“As I was growing up, I was lucky enough to spend time with a number of native Gaelic Speakers, who participated in cultural events and taught Gaelic language and song workshops through local cultural organizations such as Féis an Eilein and the Nova Scotia Highland Village Museum. These tradition bearers were readily accessible and always willing to share stories and pass on the language to a new generation. I was very inspired by one man in particular, Peter Jack MacLean, who was a wonderful tradition bearer from the Christmas Island area. I learned many songs from him and he became something of mentor to me over the years.
Since these early days, I have always had a keen interest in Gaelic song. I love the rhythms, the beauty in the melodies, and how they have a such way of connecting people. I find them comforting to sing, and I am continually amazed by how they are so able to evoke emotions in people who may or may not have any understanding of the language.”
Coincidently, the song title translates as “Alasdair of the Flagons,” and for a complete translation you might have to visit some Cape Breton to find some native Gaelic speakers, but the band do provide a brief synopsis.
“In short, it is a song about a guy who has retired from the army and likes to drink a few pints now and then. The song goes on to talk about what a fine man he is and that he is a bit of a ladies man I suppose.”
Miller | MacDonald | Cormier can be found in the coming weeks participating in the East Coast Music Awards, with appearances at the ECMA Trinity Sessions Warner Roots stage on Saturday, May 4, and the ECMA Celtic Brunch on May 5 at the PEI Brewing Company along with Vishtèn and Còig.