Gaol Ise Gaol I (Scottish-Gaelic Trad.) - Live

The Scottish Gaelic waulking song "Gaol Ise Gaol I" performed by the newfound Norwegian choir Artemis on their premiere concert (Uropptreden).
"Gaol ise gaol i" (She is my love) is a so-called waulking song of Scottish Gaelic origin. A waulking song is a type of work song sung by women to keep the rhythm when kneading wool into felt (waulking). They can be said to be the female equivalent to sea shanties traditionally sung by men. Both of these forms of work songs originated primarily with the Hebrides, who were a Scottish Gaelic people in todays northwest-Scotland.
"Gail Ise Gaol I" is about a man who has fallen head over heels for a woman, Anna MacNeil, who sadly is expecting a child with another.
Soli: Ingrid, Marita, Thea, Linn Kaia, Therese, Martine, Tonje
Arrangement and conductor: Daniel Bahram

[@nicksullivan480]

There used to be Waulking songs in the Hebrides like this . Waulking is not walking it’s the process by which a long piece of newly woven tweed is pummeled by a group of women sat round a table to Matt the fibers and effectively finish the cloth. They would sing to maintain the rhythm apparently. I’m wondering if the hand movements here echo that process. I’m sure there’s a video of waulking on KZbin somewhere….

[@peterdavidson3268]

"I’m sure there’s a video of waulking on KZbin somewhere…." There is indeed - recorded in 1941 and now in the British Council archive

[@MrJmagenta]

There is also a wonderful documentary about work songs that talk and show Waulking being done today

[@cm.s.2164]

You are absolutely right. This is a waulking song. One of many that can be found on KZbin. A piece of history brought back to life.

[@oldwarrant4]

That's the song my ancestors would have sung.

[@irvinfeliciano7473]

I imagine them washing cloths on the river by that rhythm. Like magic!

[@stephanieadams3747]

You have a lousy imagination.

[@Bananas904]

​@@stephanieadams3747 That was the legitimate purpose of these songs. Lousy? No. Realisitic? Yes.

[@nmmccrea]

@@Bananas904 Well, no. Waulking was part of the preparation process for fabrics. They'd do these motions with wool to this rhythm sitting at a table...They didn't do it in a river, but they did use urine as part of the cleansing/prep process.

[@Skyebright1]

Outlander has Claire waulking with a group of women inside

[@pattileethomas8950]

The loveliest sounds I have heard today!

[@carlomariabezzi8460]

❤❤❤è bellissima, piena di gioia ed energia! ❤❤❤😊

[@yellojuice_8594]

I'm in love with this

[@SpaceGirlLaika]

Mesmerizing! ❤

[@christinecollins404]

That's just fabulous 👏 👏

[@NSResponder]

Brilliant performance.

[@user-jb8hw4zo8p]

Awesome. Thank you for sharing

[@dingus_doofus]

Isn't the song much rather about the expectant mother's love for her unborn child (and the great life of singing in the woods while your dashing hero husband can drink a lot of beer and commands great warriors)?

[@schoolingdiana9086]

It’s a waulking song. Waulking is the process of making felted woolen cloth.

[@windy1439]

no its about being in love with a married woman

[@Skyebright1]

M. Maire Ni Shuilleabhain has a translation of the song

[@Skyebright1]

She’s pregnant from the son of the lord of the ships, and then she goes on to describe herself

[@jamsodonnelljamsodonnell7342]

Eh no

[@TheSpotlightSoprano]

Absolutely beautiful. Is there somewhere to get/buy the arrangement sheet music?

[@kaylaloha2023]

Where can I get sheet music?

[@AredelNerven]

Song for washing clothes. Woman's song. I know songs for shipping, when command synhronized by rhythm of song. Man's song. It's old songs of Irish, breton, bulgarian, norwegian, Russian, and native Siberian people. I think, what song for washing clothes have many nations/people, avoid people from deserts.

[@finlay2695]

Actually, it was more commonly a waulking song! Essentially the song is sung while the women work on a long piece of tweed fabric, where they repeatedly beat and stretch the fabric in order to matt it and finish it. Another commenter went into further detail

[@strat5849]

The man looks like he is Lebanese

[@miovicdina7706]

Yes, anywhere from the Mediterranean, Upper or Lower.

[@koretartemis]

Kurd :)