Soilleir an Aisling is nam Facal	Clear the Dream and the Words
"Orosay" le Màiri NicAonghais; Greentrax, Gàidhlig/Beurla, £12.49 CD lèirmheas le Ridseard MacBhàtair	"Orosay" by Màiri MacInnes; Greentrax, Gaelic/English, £12.49 CD review by Ridseard MacBhàtair
Chan e eòlaiche ceòl Gaidhealach a tha annam idir, ach, mar a chanas iad, tha mi ag aithneachadh na as toil leam. Is toil leam ceòl Gaidhealach an uair a tha e air a dheagh sheinn is a chluich; an uair a tha an luchd ciùil deatamach agus dìcheallach a thaobh na h-obrach anns a bheil iad an sàs; agus an uair a tha coltas fìor dha-rìribh air na h-òrain, is Gàidhlig air a cleachdadh gu nàdarrach seach a bhith ann air sgàth fasain.	I am no expert on Gaelic music, but, as they say, I know what I like. I like Gaelic music that is well sung and played; where the musicians are keen and committed to the work they are involved in; and where there is a sense of genuineness about the songs, with Gaelic used naturally rather than as a fashion accessory.
Tha Orosay a' dèanamh na cùise air na deuchainnean cruaidh seo. Tha guth binn so-èisteachd aig Màiri, agus tha a càirdean leis na h-ionnstramaidean ciùil a' cumail taic rithe gu socair tlachdmhor	Orosay passes these stringent tests. Màiri possesses a fine, listenable voice and her friends with the musical instruments support her in a way which is gentle and enjoyable.
'S e taghadh gu math pearsanta a tha seo do Mhàiri. Tha òran ann a dh'ionnsaich i bho a h-athair, agus fear eile a sheinn i aig mòd ionadail nuair a bha i beag. Tha òrain ann a bha air an sgrìobhadh leatha fhèin air neo le a càirdean, agus iad làimh ri feadhainn thraidiseanta. Ach tha a h-uile fear dhiubh air a' chlàr air sgàth s' gu bheil e a' ciallachadh rudeigin cudthromach do Mhàiri fhèin, agus tha adhbhar a roghainn gu tric air a mhìneachadh anns na notaichean. A' nochdadh mar snàth a ruitheas tron chruinneachadh seo de dh'òrain tha cuspairean sònraichte a tha dlùth ri cridhe Màiri NicAonghais agus a tha a' buntainn ri a beatha fhèin. Tha creideamh, sìth, càirdeas, coimhearsnachd agus àrach òg an t-seinneadair nan cuspairean as bitheanta a bhios a' nochdadh.	This is a highly personal selection of songs by Màiri. There is a song her father taught her, and another which she sang at a local mòd when she was a child. There are songs written by herself or by her friends, and these are side by side with more traditional songs. But every one of them is on the record because it means something important to Màiri herself, and the reason for her choice is often explained in the accompanying notes. Running like a thread throughout this collection of songs are a number of special themes close to Màiri MacInnes's heart, and which touch upon her own life. Belief, peace, friendship, community and the singer's upbringing are the themes which appear most frequently.
Tha aon òran ann, An Aisling, a bheir blas dhuibh. 'S e òran làidir, fonnmhor a sgrìobh Màiri i fhèin, agus tha e a' tòiseachadh mar seo:	One song, An Aisling [the dream], will give you a flavour. It is a strong, melodious piece written by Màiri herself, and in translation begins like this:
Tàladh m' òrain 's mi nam aonar air an t-slighe 's mi ri strì Soilleir an aisling las an fhìrinn dh'àitich briathran mo chrìdh' 'S i seo an làmh, 's i seo an làmh, 's i seo an làmh a leighis mi	The draw of my song as I am alone on the way, struggling Clear the dream which lit the truth that cultivated the words of my heart It is the hand, it is the hand, it is the hand which cured me
'S e aon de na h-adhbharan a bhios mise ag èisteachd ri ceòl Gaidhealach gus piseach a thoirt air mo chuid Gàidhlig. Tha an CD seo feumail san dòigh sin. Gheibhear ann seinn shoilleir, gun e air a thachdadh le ceòl taice, agus tha seo ga dhèanamh cho furasta 's a bhios e faclan nan òran a thuigsinn. Co-dhiù, agus gu cudthromach dhan fheadhainn againn a tha fhathast ag ionnsachadh, tha na faclan air an toirt thugainn anns na notaichean.	One of the reasons I listen to Gaelic music is to improve my Gaelic language. This CD is useful in this respect. You get clear singing which is not drowned out by the backing musicians, making it as easy as it ever can be to understand the words of the songs. Anyway, and importantly for those of us who are still learning Gaelic, the words are given to us in the notes.
Bha mi toilichte fhaicinn gur ann anns a' Ghàidhlig a-mhàin gu tric a tha na faclan a' nochdadh, oir tha seo an dà chuid a' dearbhadh gu bheil a' Ghàidhlig fhathast beò mar chànan coimhearsnachd, agus tha e a' toirt air an neach ionnsachaidh a chuid sgìlean a chur gu feum. (Tha eadar-theangachaidhean Beurla rim faotainn bhon luchd foillseachaidh, mas fheudar dhut).	I was pleased to see that the lyrics very often appear in Gaelic only, since this both demon- strates that Gaelic is still alive as a community language and it forces the learner to put his/her store of skills to use. (Translations are available from the publishers, if you must have them).
Aon ghearan: tha cus mhearachdan clò ann, agus iad a' toirt air falbh bho obair a tha, a rèir coltais, na obair gaoil. Gu dè tha ann an "shaenamhair", mar eisimpleir? Gu sealladh sealbh òirnn, feumaidh nach eil e cho doirbh sin an teacs a dhearbhadh gu cùramach mus tèid e dhan chlò-bhualadair?	One complaint: there are too many typos, and they detract from what is supposed to be a labour of love. What is a "shaenamhair", for example? For goodness sake, surely it's not that difficult to check the text carefully before it goes to the publishers?
Co-dhiù, do dh'fhear nach eil cho mòr air ceòl Gaidhealach san fharsaingeachd, chan eil seo dona idir. Tha e onarach, neo-thruaillte, sìmplidh agus ceòlmhor. Chan e rock 'n' roll a tha ann, ach a dh'aindeoin sin, is toil leam e.	However, to someone who is not that big a fan of Gaelic music, this is not bad at all. It is honest, unpretentious, simple and musical. It's not rock 'n' roll, but despite that, I like it.

CD and music can be found in Notes on Celtic Music.

You can find more articles in the archive under Gaelic Column and information on the organization at C.L.I.