Gaelic Song: An Aitearachd Ard by Ishbel MacAskill

Gaelic Song: An Aitearachd Ard (The Surge Of The Sea) by Ishbel MacAskill. Something that had been on my mind for a long time, I did this a few months ago but never got round to posting it.The sound of the sea in this case is the Pacific - from Exotic Voices & Rhythms of the South Seas to be precise. The mixing of the two tracks together is all my own work, any shortcomings entirely my own.
The ceaseless surge
Listen to the surge of the sea
The thunder of the ocean
As I heard it when I was a child
Without change, without pity
Breaking on the sand of the beach
The ceaseless surge
Listen to the surge of the sea
In the woods of the west
I would not want to remain forever
My mind and my desire
Were always on the little hollow by the bay
But those folk who were generous in affection
In their happiness and in their acts
Have been scattered defenseless
As a flock of birds flees in front of their enemy
But I'll depart from you
I'll not move any more to meet you
My age and my appearance
Give an account of the shortness of my day
At the time that I am wrapped
In the cold slumber of death
My bed make up
Behind the sound of the sea
The surge of the sea
My bed make up
Behind the sound of the sea
My bed make up
Behind the sound of the sea
The surge of the sea

[@lennoxmorrison4671]

So beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. My father, whose people came from Lewis, loved this song. I happened to come across the English text in his papers and wanted to hear it sung in Gaelic. How fortunate I am to have found this heart-stirring rendition.

[@ReallyJillRogoff]

She was such a beautiful singer. What a darned shame she died way too soon. RIP.

[@carolinemackenzie2065]

what a loss to have lost Ishbel - such a pure voice =we will never forget you Palxxxx

[@callummackay9886]

one of the best female gaelic singers ever if not the best,

[@maxmarnau7019]

Try Margaret Stewart.

[@jamesmckenzie6687]

Ethereal,emotive....just perfect. Rest in peace, dear lady!

[@marycannon1509]

A beautiful Gaelic voice. I will keep her music alive.

[@archiebrown3719]

Sleep tight isabel a true angels voice l was sad to learn of her passing another great vocalist lost xxx💙💙💙

[@mactcampbell]

What a clear and soft voice!!. Perfect for singing without instrumentals.

[@lisalemmer-benedix3474]

unbelievably beautiful and haunting ..... the voice of an angel ..... love it and ordering the cd now ..... bless you for creating this and sharing it with us ..... Lisa Benedix, Grand Lake West NB Canada

[@Dezmau]

this is beautifully done and the sound of the sea in the background definitely adds to Ishbel's voice..! Congratulations! You should try more of these! What a beautiful song... I can really identify with it... Will be saving it as a favourite to my list!

[@Steve1945]

I love it when I discover a "new" voice. What a beautiful voice and emotive rendering. I'm going to look for more!

[@DasHearach]

I sang this at Dingwall Provincial Mod when I was 11 or 12. This, along with reading, recitation and conversation made me the first winner of the Tullach Ard Shield. Not many can share that boast! Well, only one actually - I myself! Wish I could sing it as well as this rendition! (wish I could still sing it at all!)

[@AlPood]

Was there a prize for modesty in them days 😀

[@neilmaclean294]

Modest with it …

[@Kobzar3374]

Oh, and this is one of the songs that Bran the Blessed listened to from the lips of a fairy young lady on an island beyond the ocean, where he had arrived in a dream, right? I am kidding a little bit, but you know that, according to a Russian proverb, in every joke there is a part of truth… In this one, besides all my admiration and sympathy, there is the impression that this sounds like the kind of songs attributed to the fairies in Celtic legends. Thank you for sharing this beauty, keep up the good work, and all best wishes from Spain!

[@RichardMunro1963]

great production by a great artist

[@cbeaglemaniac]

Love this! The only other version of this particular song I've heard is Runrig's, and while I adore it there's something so ethereal about this one. Beautiful!

[@WhoIsJimHardiman]

This is so well done....touched my heart and soul. Thanks a lot. God bless Jim

[@SoulGnosis]

"Tapadh leat, mo charaid".

[@folksurvival]

Beautiful.

[@Ljotulfson]

Absolutely beautiful - Thank you.

[@ombra004]

OH!!!! I was just off the Sound of Slea when you uploaded this wonderful work of love! Thank you, thank you!!!

[@PacalB]

Beautifully done ...

[@billsnoopy777]

Beautiful. Another day made touching and heart warming. Thanks! !

[@ISFJELL58]

bonnie scotland i adore ye....makes you proud to be a scot..

[@BeCoolBabe1]

Thanks Don for linking me to this piece!! what a beautiful voice.

[@antonykozlowski127]

She was the best.

[@jacobsgranddaughter]

Beautiful! ❤️

[@UISTMAN59]

Thank you! Ishbel 's voice is beautiful by itself but the addition of the waves was my own idea and I wasn't sure it would work out -even though that is what the song is about! :-)

[@jacobsgranddaughter]

@@UISTMAN59 It works beautifully😊

[@donellamackenzie9350]

My father sung this at the mod as did I when young. I think Kathy Ann Macphee sings it really well

[@UISTMAN59]

+Donella Mackenzie You mean Cathy Ann :) - and you are right, she sing it really well !

[@donellamackenzie9350]

When my aunt died though she lived in England most of her life her family wanted a Scottish theme funeral, as she was brought up beside the sea I got a tape of (sorry for the error now corrected) Cathy Ann Macphee singing it and got it translated into Enlish so those attending would be part of it as it was played as the coffin went away. This song means a lot to me, memories!

[@UISTMAN59]

+Donella Mackenzie Thank you for sharing that story Donella.

[@donellamackenzie9350]

My pleasure!

[@ianmunro2972]

Cha robh na b' fheàrr!

[@ShonaMcMillan]

Wonderful :-)

[@steaphris]

An Ataireachd Àrd - at, ag atadh - swelling; ataireachd (atmhoireachd)

[@codeblack3026]

Anyone know where the wave is in the picture.

[@MrDrjohn23]

Brilliant. Just wish I could understand the language.

[@UISTMAN59]

Diolch yn fawr :)

[@CantwrCymreig]

Hyfryd iawn!

[@andrewsharkey2117]

Guth binn, blásta ar fad.

[@UISTMAN59]

Ta se ceart agat

[@jamesmckenzie6687]

Q