Mhnathan a’ Ghlinne Sa – Women of the Glen

Mhnathan a’ Ghlinne Sa – Women of the Glen.

This beautiful pibroch song was performed by Nan MacKinnon in 1960: https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/100195?l=en.

The sorrowful lyrics address the women of the glen, telling them it’s time to rise and flee. There are also some lyrics of lamentation which appear to be borrowed from Mackintosh’s Lament.

mhnathan_a_ghlinne_sa-mackinnonDownload

The Story

This song is associated with the famous Massacre of Glencoe. The story goes that a Campbell soldier wanted to warn the MacDonalds of the impending massare. The night before the attack on the glen, the solider played this song on the pipes to warn the occupants.

The piper hoped that someone in the glen had the gift a’ chluas-chiùil (the Ear of Music), the ability to discern lyrics in instrumental music. More on this topic in the future! One girl in the glen possessed this gift and was able to flee to safety with her family.

This story is recounted by Rev. Norman MacDonald here.

Performance Notes

Nan takes a breath in the middle and end of each line. I’ve drawn a long slur over each section to indicate how she’s phrasing it. Consider pausing for a moment in the same places – I perhaps overdo this in my own performance.

There’s also a small variation of the first line, which inverts the first “snap” rhythm to suit the lyrics.