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The field recordings I am aware of date mainly from the 1940s and 1950s, and were performed by elderly people for folklore collectors. Now that the archives of John Lorne Campbell on Canna, and the School of Scottish Studdies in Edinburgh, have been made available online through the Tobar and Dualchais / Kist o’ Riches project, you can listen to a number of them here. There are also a few in the Gaelstream online archive of Cape Breton recordings in Canada.

This incomplete catalogue lists all of the sung lays I know of available online to listen to, plus some that have been released on record or tape, plus some others I know of or have seen reference to. There are more out there than these. There are a number of lays that were recited without a tune, and there are also prose tales.

Standard Title

Title

Date

Singer

Place

Country

Tape / track

Recording

Transcription

Translation

Score

Notes

Duan na Muilgheartaich (song of the sea hag)

Duan na Muilgheartaich

Duan na Muilgheartaich

1950

Duncan MacDonald

Scotland

Canna CW0044A.202

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/24521/1

Duan na Muilgheartaich

Duan na Muilgheartaich

1953

Penny Morrison

Lochdar, South Uist

Scotland

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.43-44

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.43-44

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.43-44

Duan na Muilgheartaich

Duan na Muildheartaich

1958

Penny Morrison

Lochdar, South Uist

Scotland

Canna CannaTape.0035 / CannaOT.3

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/45830/1

Scéalamhráin Cheilteacha, 1985

Duan na Muilgheartaich

Duan na Muilgheartaich

1962

Neil Gillies

Scotland

SA1962.05.B4

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/10087/1

Recited

Duan na Muilgheartaich

Duan na Muilgheartaich

1959

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

SA1959.57.B3

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/41016/1

Laoidh Chaoilte (lay of Caoilte)

Laoidh Chaoilte

Caoilte agus am Famhair

1952

James C. M. Campbell

Scotland

SA1952.88.B5a; B5b

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/5711/1

Non-native singing style

Laoidh Chaoilte

Caoilte agus Fuamhaire nan Còig Cinn

1956

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

SA1955.178.A4

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/22298/1

Laoidh Chaoilte

Latha Dhan Fhín am Beinn Ioghnaidh

1958

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

SA1958.28.4

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/32357/1

Laoidh Chaoilte

Laoidh Chaoilte

1960

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

CannaTape.0039 / CannaOT.7

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/47673/1

Laoidh Chaoilte

Laoidh Caoilte

1965

Kate MacDonald (Mrs Archie McDonald / Bean Eairdsidh Raghaill)

South Uist

Scotland

SA1965/88.A1

Scottish Tradition Vol 2 - Music from the Western Isles CDTRAX9002 (truncated)

Tocher 27, Winter 1977-8
Scottish Tradition Vol 2 - Music from the Western Isles CDTRAX9002 (truncated)

Tocher 27, Winter 1977-8
Scottish Tradition Vol 2 - Music from the Western Isles CDTRAX9002 (truncated)

Tocher 27, Winter 1977-8

Duan na Ceàrdaich (lay of the smithy)

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duanag na Ceardaich

Mrs Archie McDonald

South Uist

Scotland

SA???

Songs and Pipes of the Hebrides, Folkways FE4430

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.42

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.42

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.42

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duan na Ceàrdaich

1953

Kate MacDonald

South Uist

Scotland

SA1953.48.2

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/4472/1

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duanag na Ceardaich

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

Musique Celtique - Iles Hebrides, Ocora 45

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duan na Ceàrdaich

1964

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

SA1964.44.A1

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/86293/1

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duan na Ceardaich

1978

Joe Allan MacLean

Christmas Island, Cape Breton

Canada

Cape Breton Gaelic Folklore Collection: Tape No: 56, Item On Tape: A 02

http://gaelstream.stfx.ca/gsdl/cgi-bin/library.exe?a=q&r=1&hs=1&e=q-11000-00---off-0capebret--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10-DC--4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about-Duanag+na+Ceardaich--00-3-1-01-0-0-11-1-0utfZz-8-00&fqf=DC&t=0&q=Duan+na+Ceardaich

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duan na Ceàrdaich

1957

Penny Morrison

Lochdar, South Uist

Scotland

Canna CW0199

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/50824/1

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.41

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.41

2 stanzas, Frances Collinson, The Traditional and National Music of Scotland, 1966, p.41

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duan na Ceàrdaich

1965

Penny Morrison

Lochdar, South Uist

Scotland

SA1965.81.B2

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/90099/1

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duan na Ceàrdaich

1965

Penny Morrison

Lochdar, South Uist

Scotland

SA1965.81.B3

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/90101/1

Duan na Ceàrdaich

Duan na Ceàrdaich

1950

Duncan MacDonald

Scotland

Canna CW0044A.201

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/24519/1

Laoi na Mna Móire (lay of the big woman)

Laoi na Mna Móire

Laoi na Mná Móire

1949? or 1946? pre 1950

Micheál Ó hIghne

Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal

Ireland

Irish Folklore Commission

Breathnach p.26 (one verse)

Breathnach p.26 (one verse)

Breathnach p.26 (notation is a composite version, assembled from non-sequential fragments of the recording)

Vallely p.211

Laoi na Mna Móire

Laoi na Mna Móire

1945

Séamas Ó hIghne

Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal

Ireland

Irish Folklore Commission

Scéalamhráin Cheilteacha, 1985

Scéalamhráin Cheilteacha, 1985

Laoidh Dhiarmaid (Lay of Diarmuid)

Laoidh Dhiarmaid

Laoidh Dhiarmaid (2 stanzas)

1966

Calum Johnston

Eoligarry, Barra

Scotland

Terence P. McCaughey, The Performing of Dán, Eriu XXXV, 1984, p.53

Laoidh Dhiarmaid

Laoidh Dhiarmaid

1950

Duncan MacDonald

Scotland

Canna CW0044B.207

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/24531/1

Laoidh Dhiarmaid

Laoidh Dhiarmaid

1950

Duncan MacDonald

Scotland

Canna CW0089A

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/49252/1

Bàs Dhiarmaid

Bàs Dhiarmaid

1952

James C. M. Campbell

Scotland

SA1952.88.B4

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/5709/1

Non-native singing style

Teanntachd Mhor na Feinne (Greatest achievement of the Fianna)

Teanntachd Mhor na Feinne

Teanntachd Mhor na Feinne

1953

Angus MacIsaac

Antigonish, Cape Breton

Canada

???

Songs Remembered in Exile

Songs Remembered in Exile

Songs Remembered in Exile

Laoidh an Fhir Mhòir (lay of the big man)

Laoidh an Fhir Mhòir

Laoidh an Fhir Mhòir

1958

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

CannaTape.0034 / CannaOT.2

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/45580/1

Laoidh Mhanuis (lay of Manus)

Laoidh Mhanuis

Laoidh Mhanuis

1968

Donald Sinclair

Scotland

SA1968.26.B9

1 stanza, John Purser, Scotlands Music, 1992, p.73

1 stanza, John Purser, Scotlands Music, 1992, p.73

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh (lay of the black dog)

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

1950

Duncan MacDonald

South Uist

Scotland

Canna CW0044B.208

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/24539/1

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

1951

Duncan MacDonald

South Uist

Scotland

SA1951/6.B2

Tocher 25, Spring 1977, p.22-25

Tocher 25, Spring 1977, p.22-25

Tocher 25, Spring 1977, p.22-25

With spoken English introduction

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

1953

Duncan MacDonald

South Uist

Scotland

SA1953/34.A3

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/23056/1

Different, more syllabic tune, perhaps borrowed from Laoidh Fhraoich (ref. Tocher 25, Spring 1977, p.25)

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

1963

Marion Campbell (?)

Baile a' Mhuilinn, South Uist

Scotland

SA1963013 A2

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/90018/1

Terence P. McCaughey, The Performing of Dán, Eriu XXXV, 1984, p. 47-48

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

Laoidh a’ Choin Duibh

1958

Marion Campbell

Lochainort, South Uist

Scotland

SA1958.28.3

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/32355/1

Laoi Chlainne Uisnigh (Lay of Clan Uisnigh)

Laoi Chlainne Uisnigh

Laoi Chlainne Uisnigh

1985

Máirtín Ó Conaire

Rath Cairn, Co. Meath

Ireland

National Folklore Collection, UCD, NFC JS0039

???

Mostly spoken, only a little singing

Laoidh Fhraoich (Lay of Fraoch)

Laoidh Fhraoich

Laoidh Fhraoich

1953

Dugald MacCormick

Scotland

SA1953.141.A3

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/46105/1

Laoidh Fhraoich

Laoidh Fhraoich

1950

Duncan MacDonald

Scotland

Canna CW0055.236

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/24959/1

Laoi an Amadáin Mhóir (lay of the big fool)

Laoi an Amadáin Mhóir

Laoi an Amadáin Mhóir

1970s?

Seán Bán MacGrianna

Ireland

Vallely p.211. There is an excerpt of the audio recording and transcription in Scéalta agus amhráin, Coiscéim 2010, spoken word only.

Am Bròn Binn (the sweet sorrow)

Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn (version O)

Kate McCormick

Scotland

Linda Gowans, Am Bròn Binn (partial)

Linda Gowans, Am Bròn Binn (partial)

Linda Gowans, Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn (version O)

2009

Catriona Garbutt

Benbecula

Scotland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh0Dnknfep0

Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn (version O)

2009

Margaret Callan

Benbecula

Scotland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7jcEtYu-O0

Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn (version V)

Penny Morrison

Lochdar, South Uist

Scotland

FTX-192 - THE BROWN GIRL SONGS OF THE HEBRIDES - 2

Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn (version V)

2009

Catriona Garbutt

Benbecula

Scotland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEsqd5C_X5g

Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn (version V)

1950

Duncan MacDonald

Scotland

Canna CW0081.325

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/33071/1

Am Bròn Binn

Am Bròn Binn (version Z)

1957

Alec Stewart

SA1957.38.A1

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/32521/1

Linda Gowans, Am Bròn Binn (partial)

Linda Gowans, Am Bròn Binn (partial)

Linda Gowans, Am Bròn Binn

References.

Simon Chadwick