| Reference Number | 338 |
| Title | The Poetry of Badenoch |
| Author | N/A (Anthology) |
| Editor | Sinton, Thomas |
| Date Of Edition | 1906 |
| Date Of Language | late 19c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 19th c. |
| DateMacro | Late 19th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | The Northern Counties Publishing Company |
| Place Published | Inverness |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | National and academic libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Badenoch |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Badenoch |
| GeoMacro | E Inverness-shire |
| GeoX | -4.0307 |
| GeoY | 56.9479 |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Literature, Verse |
| Register Ed | Literature, Verse |
| Genre | Literature |
| Medium | Verse |
| Rating | B (TBC)
An extensive anthology of 181 poems and songs mainly from Badenoch collected or transcribed by the editor the Rev. Thomas Sinton.
The poems and songs cover a variety of subjects, such as love, war, elegy and lament, specific events and people, praise of people and place, hunting, daily life and work, and humour.
Some good examples of the Gaelic dialect of Badenoch.
Useful historical notes (in English) to introduce and to put each item into context. |
| Alternative Author Name | N/A |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 25.7cm x 15cm |
| Short Title | Poetry of Badenoch |
| Reference Details | NLS: Lit.S.36 |
| Number Of Pages | xxxix, 576 |
| Gaelic Text By | N/A |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | The Rev. Dr Thomas Sinton (1855-1923) was born 18 September 1855 in Aberarder, Laggan, Badenoch, to Thomas Sinton and Anne Stewart. His father, a well-known farmer, was tacksman of Nuide, Aberarder and Kerrow. Thomas Sinton was educated at Kingussie School, Inverness Royal Academy and Edinburgh High School. He then studied for the ministry at the University of St Andrews. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Abernethy on 13 May 1881, and afterwards became an assistant at Blair Atholl (Struan) before being ordained to Glengarry on 8 February 1889. Sinton was later elected, transferred and admitted on 10 July 1889, and took up the position of clerk of Presbytery from 1901 until 1923. He married Catherine Macfarlane (died 21 December 1941), daughter of Duncan Macfarlane, Invervack, Blair Atholl, with issue―Thomas Christopher John, born 4 May 1906, who later himself became a minister of Tower Church Stanely and then Chaplain to the Forces and died on active duty in October 1943.
Aside from The Poetry of Badenoch (1906), Sinton was a prolific author and editor (see Further Reading). For his literary endeavours he was awarded an honorary degree of D.D. by the University of St Andrews in 1912. After a short illness, Sinton passed away on 4 September 1923 at the Manse of Dores. |
| Contents | After the title page, there appears a dedication (p. v) to Albert C. Macpherson (Cluny Macpherson), followed by a preface (pp. vi-xiv), contents list (pp. xv-xx) and a list of subscribers (pp. xxi-xxiv), and then an introduction (pp. xv-xxxvii) and a list of errata (p. xxxix). The main text then appears, divided into eight main sections each containing songs with English translations as follows: ‘Songs of Feelings’ (37 songs); ‘Songs of Love’ (17 songs), ‘Songs of Compliment’ (20 songs), ‘Songs of Humour’ (30 songs), ‘Songs of the Chase’ (14 songs), ‘Songs of War’ (15 songs), ‘Songs of Death’ (38 songs), ‘Songs of the Soul’ (9 songs). This main text is followed by an index to the first lines (pp. 562-67) and also an index to persons and places (pp. 569-76).
There are a few famous songs included, such as those by Donald Campbell (Dòmhnall Phàil), Guma Slàn do an Fearaibh (pp. 36-38) and Duanag a’ Chìobair (pp. 69-72) and also compositions by Lachlan Macpherson (Fear Strath Mhathaisidh) (pp. 129-32, 142-43, 148-50, 158-63, 168-71, 177-80, 234-39) as well as John Roy Stuart (Iain Ruadh) (pp. 151-53, 196-99). Also of note is a long elegy on James ‘Ossian’ Macpherson (pp. 260-68), and three elegies which commemorate the Catastrophe of Gaick (pp. 273-89). A Biblical influence is discernible on the various hymns (pp. 326-56). Of note are the compositions of Mary Macpherson (Bean Thorra Dhamh).
The collection reflects a wide-range of key genres of Gaelic song as in praise and dispraise of whisky, satires on mice, love, nature, Jacobite, exile, emigration and so forth. Usually Gaelic titles are not given to any pieces of poetry or song, and only rarely is an associated tune or air noted. |
| Sources | In general, names are not given for the people from whom Sinton transcribed his material. He does, however, give details of the sources of the vast majority of his material (p. ix) as follows: Mrs Davidson (Bean an Deubhasanaich), her sister, Mrs John Macpherson (Bean Iain Bhàin), Mrs Shaw (Bean an t-Sèthich) and Alexander Macpherson (Alasdair Mòr, Loinn an Fhuarain). He also mentions two others (p. ix) who gave but fragments: Bean a’ Choireachain and Mary Stewart. It is stated by the editor that some of the items were extracted from printed collections (p. x), and were also taken from the Cluny charter chest (p. 48). Sinton acknowledges the assistance of Brigadier-General Ewan Macpherson of Cluny and of the Representatives of Mr James Macpherson of the Union Bank, Edinburgh, for access to various manuscript collections. |
| Language | This volume contains poems and songs on a variety of topics such as love, war, elegy and lament, specific events and people, praise, daily life and work, and also humours items.
There are a large number of elegies and laments, particularly in the section dealing with ‘Songs of Death’ (pp. 225-325), such as one composed by Duncan Fraser on the death of Colonel Duncan Macpherson of Cluny (pp. 290-94) where the opening lines are: ‘O! gur mis’ th’ air mo sgaradh / ’S cha ’n e ’n t-Earrach a liath mi; / Ach na chaill mi an Cùpar.’ The three elegies composed about the tragic events that occurred at Gaick were once well-known, and one of them, composed by Duncan Mackay (Donnchadh Gobha) begins: ‘An Nollaig mu dheireadh de’n cheud, / Cha chuir sinn na cunntas nam mìos; / Gu ma h-anmoch thig i rìs, / Bu ghrìomhach a bhean-taighe i.’ (p. 282).
There are a number of songs about specific events and battles which also touch upon war and clanship, such as a song composed by John Roy Stuart commemorating the Battle of Culloden (pp. 194-99), which begins: ‘O! gur mis’ th’ air mo chràdh, / Thuit mo chridhe gu làr, / ’S tric snidhe gu m’ shàil o m’ léirsinn.’; and, as mentioned above, an emigrant song composed by Donald Campbell (Dòmhnall Phàil), Guma Slàn do an Fearaibh (pp. 36-38), which begins: ‘Gu ’m slàn do na fearaibh / Théid thairis a’ chuan, / Gu talamh a’ gheallaidh, / Far nach fairich iad fuachd.’
A few of the songs touch on daily life and work, such as milking croons (pp. 13-19), and including the well-known Crodh Chailein, which begins: ‘Crodh Chailein, Crodh Chailein, / Crodh Chailein, mo ghaoil, / Crodh riabhach breac ballach, / Air dhath nan eun-fraoich’, turf-cutting (p. 4) and transhumance (p. 28). There are a few songs of praise of place and nature, mainly confined to Badenoch, such as those in praise of Loch Erchit-side and Ben Alder, composed by Margaret Gow; Cairngorms (p. 3), and Laggan (pp. 6-8).
There are numerous praise poems to important local individuals, such Colonel Gillies Macpherson (pp. 101-05), composed by Calum MacIntyre (Calum Dubh nam Protaigean), which begins: ‘Nar mhealadh mo mo bhreacan, / Ged nach ’eil mi pailt do stòr, / Mur h-eil mi eutrom aighireach, / ’S deadh naidheachd air tighinn oirnn,/…’.
There are a number of songs concerning hunting, one of which is the well-known song Allt an Lochan Uaine, composed by William Gow, which begins: ‘Aig Allt and Lochain Uaine, / Gu ’n robh mi uair a’ tamh, / ’S ged bha ’n t-àite fuar, / Bha ’n fhàrdach fuathasach blath’; and also of note are dialogue songs between either the hunter and the deer or the hunter and his gun (pp. 168-71; 177-80).
There are a number of satirical or humorous poems contained in this volume, e.g., ‘A Bhànais Bhàn’ (pp. 142-43) composed by Lachlan Macpherson of Strathmashie, which begins: ‘Mo rùn air a’ chomunn ud, / Cho somolta, neo-thomadach, / Mo dhùrachd do ’n chumunn ud, / Gun bhó gun bholla gann daibh.’ Other examples are given in ‘Songs of Humour’, such as a satire on mice (pp. 129-32), also composed by Lachlan Macpherson of Strathmashie.
Although the apostrophe is retained in the possessive determiner it is used rather erratically, e.g.: ’n ad (p. 2), ’g a rùsgadh (p. 4), ’n a dheannaibh (p. 16), ad (p. 95).
Frequent contraction of agus or is to ’s (p. 2), ’us (p. 26) and a’s (p. 96).
Tendency to use bhi rather than bhith (p. 3).
Somewhat inconsistent use of accents, e.g.: teid (p. 6), Snamh (p. 7), nadur (p. 9), mhathair’ (p. 16), lamh (p. 27), brogan (p. 142).
There is the occasional lack of apostrophes, e.g.: Dh éirich (p. 22).
Fairly regular use of elision, e.g.: ’m balach (p. 17), bainn’ (p. 17), eil’ (p. 23), tigh’nn (p. 49), thu’irt (p. 56).
Epenthetic vowels occasionally make an appearance, e.g.: sheanachas (p. 162), anamoich (p. 238).
Dative plural occasionally appears, e.g.: gleannaibh (p. 33), fearaibh (p. 36), chàirdibh (p. 47), crannaibh (p. 125), mnaithibh (p. 266).
Loan-words occasionally appear in italics, e.g.: adbhans (p. 80), baiteal (p. 85), liocair (p. 128).
Very occasionally an English word appears usually in italics, e.g.: shore (p. 62), dress (p. 62), anger (p. 73), motion (p. 88).
Copula is realised as the following: gur h-i (p. 16), gur ann (p. 24), ’S ann (p. 36), gur h-è (p. 42).
There is the occasional use of hyphen rather than an apostrophe, e.g.: dh-aithris (p. 7), na-r (p. 12).
Sinton remarks in the introduction that “The form of words and the structure of sentences commonly employed in the upper valley of the Spey I often retain in the face of the plain rules of grammarians and lexicographers, who all belonged to other parts of the country.” (p. xiv). That statement supports the view that most of the text reflects the Gaelic dialect of Badenoch. |
| Orthography | The orthography conforms to the early twentieth century, where the grave and acute are retained. Accents do not appear on capital letters. |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Other Sources | |
| Further Reading | Anon., ‘Laid to Rest: Funeral of the Late Rev. Dr Sinton, Dores’, The Northern Chronicle, no. 2228 (12 September), 5.
Anon., ‘The Late Rev. Dr Sinton, Dores: Well-known Highland Minister’, The Inverness Courier, no. 8043 (7 September 1923), 5.
Black, Ronald I. M. (ed.), An Tuil: Anthology of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse (Edinburgh, 2002: Birlinn), 592-99, 804-05.
MacIllInnein, Uisdean, ‘Guma Slàn do na Fearaibh: Fìor Òran nan Eilthireach?’, Scottish Gaelic Studies [=Caindel Alban: Fèill-Sgrìobhainn do Dhòmhnall E. Meek], vol. XXIV (2008), 389-404.
Sinton, Thomas, By Loch and River: Being Memories of Loch Laggan and Upper Spey (Inverness, 1910).
Sinton, Thomas, Family and Genealogical Sketches (Inverness, 1911: privately printed).
Sinton, Thomas, ‘Gaelic Poetry from the Cluny Charter Chest’, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. XXIII (1898-99), 247-81.
Sinton, Thomas, ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. I’, The Celtic Magazine, vol. XII, no. CXXXIII (November, 1886), 25-26; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. II’, vol. XII, no. CXXXV (January, 1887), 117-19; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. III’, vol. XII, no. CXXXVI (February, 1887), 176-79; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. IV’, vol. XII, no. CXXXVII (March, 1887), 232-36; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. V’, vol. XII, no. CXXXVIII (April, 1887), 255-59; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. VI’, vol. XII, no. CXXXIX (May, 1887), 295-304; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. VII’, vol. XII; no. CXVI. (December, 1887), 85-91; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch.VIII’, vol. XIII, no. CXLVII (January, 1888), 113-22; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. IX’, vol. XIII, no. CXLIX (March, 1888), 227-33; ‘Snatches of Song Collected in Badenoch. X’, vol. XIII, no. CL (April, 1888), 258-64.
Sinton, Thomas, ‘Stray Verses of Gaelic Poetry’, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. XIX (1893-94), 73-89.
Sinton, Thomas, ‘Snatches of Song collected in Badenoch’, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. XXII (1897-98), 233-56.
Sinton, Thomas, ‘Gaelic Poetry from the MSS. of the Late Mr. James MacPherson, Edinburgh’, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. XXIV (1899-1901), 394-412.
Sinton, Thomas, ‘Places, People, and Poetry of Dores in Other Days’, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. XXVI (1904-07), 318-41.
Wiseman, Anndra E. M., ‘Call Ghàdhaig ann am Ficsean is ann am Fìrinn’, Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. LXII (2000-02), 298-346. |
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