canasg choral music publishing

SG1506

'S ann an Ile

(On Islay)

traditional Gaelic words and tune

arranged by Sheena Phillips
for soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus
with optional soli

SATB performance time approx 1m 30s

Arranger's note

This is a lively piece of Gaelic puirt-a-beul ('poorsht-a-beel') or mouth music - the name for songs written to accompany dancing. It's very well known in Scotland and sings the praises of the Inner Hebridean island of Islay (and of the girl who lived there!)

Traditionally, puirt-a-beul is sung unaccompanied and in unison but the tunes harmonise very well. Frequently they are sung in sequences of three or four, each song leading without a break into the next. 'S ann an Ile works well as the final song in the following set of four: Tha bean agam; Chuala mi e; Còta fad air Dòmnhull lòm; 'S ann an Ile (all published by Canasg).

The piece has not been marked dynamically. One successful scheme is for the opening chorus to be forte (repeated forte) and subsequent choruses to be: f (repeat p); p (repeat p); f (repeat f).

Music

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Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

'S ann an Ile (On Islay)

Chorus:
'S ann an Ile, 'n Ile, 'n Ile, 'S ann an Ile rugadh mi
'S ann an Ile, 'n Ile, 'n Ile, 'S ann an Ile bhoidheach

1. 'S ann an Ile, ghuirm an fheòir, A rugadh mi 's a thogadh mi
'S ann an Ile, ghuirm an fheòir, A rugadh mi 's a bha mi

2. 'S ann an Ile bhoidheach, A rugadh mi 's a thogadh mi
'S ann an Ile bhoidheach, A rugadh mi 's a bha mi

3. Nuair a bha mi ann an Ile, Bha Catriona cuide rium
Nuair a bha mi ann an Ile, Bha Catriona còmhla rium

traditional Gaelic song

Translation

Chorus: It's on Islay I was born, on beautiful Islay

1. It's on Islay with the green-blue grass that I was born and brought up
2. It's on beautiful Islay that I was born and brought up
3. When I was on Islay, Catriona was with me.

Canasg editors

Full pronunciation guide provided

Price per copy £1.00 ($1.50)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the Scots and Gaelic section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

Canasg Music