manx celtic music and dance

New CD of Manx songs

03 May 2011


A new CD entitled Arraneyn Beeal-Arrish Vannin (‘songs from the oral tradition’) has been released by the Manx Heritage Foundation and it features the Island’s most well-known and respected speaker of Manx Gaelic, Brian Stowell.

Originally recorded in Peel in 1973, this collection of unaccompanied Manx ballads and songs was first released on vinyl represents some of the earliest recordings of traditional Manx songs on public release. With such recordings of the Manx tradition in short supply, this new CD provides a window on the early stages of the Manx music revival. The songs are performed in a straightforward style, and the clarity and energy of the unaccompanied singing means that the CD is perfect for singers who want to learn Manx songs.

One of the songs from the CD, ‘Arrane Sooree’ (‘The Courting Song’) was selected to represent the Isle of Man on Nascente’s Beginner’s Guide to Celtic CD put together by BBC broadcaster and award-winning Scottish Gaelic singer and harpist, Mary Ann Kennedy.

Mary Ann totally fell in love with Brian’s voice and the strength of the songs he was singing.

Arraneyn contains some of the finest Manx ballads – songs of love, songs of the sea and popular ballads like ‘Ny kirree fo niaghtey’ (‘The sheep under the snow’) as well as lighter songs about dead hens and witches in corsets! In fact, the original Manx versions of many well-known songs from the Manx National Song Book are here – including ‘Graih my Chree’ (‘Love of my Heart’) and ‘Arrane Oie Vie’ (‘The Goodnight Song’).

Full lyrics, translations and the extensive notes which accompanied the original recording are included on the disc as a PDF file.

This CD re-issue will prove intriguing to those who already know and love Manx music and to those who have yet to discover it.

Arraneyn is available in all good bookshops and at Museum sites around the Island priced £12.00 or online here

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