BBC Alba series on Gaelic Bards: Baird nan Oran

The first of these programmes is tonight – Wednesday 7th April at 8.30pm – on Donald MacIntyre, aka Domhnall Ruadh Phaislig and that last name gives his place – Paisley, west of Glasgow on the Clyde. He wasn’t both there, though, but was from South Uist in the Western Isles.

His themes range across many 20th century concerns and his remarkably rich vocabulary put his Gaelic poetry among the most memorable of his time.

This series, Baird nan Oran, is part of BBC Alba’s contribution to this Year of Gaelic Song. It will also be carried on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Its purpose is to look at the life and works of some of the most important Gaelic poets and the legacy which they have left.

Work like this does what a poet in another tongue, TS Eliot, called ‘redeem from time’, a sort of catch-and-release fishing in the depths and pools of time to bring still living things back into view – before letting them swim back, taking new contacts with them.

BBC ALBA and Radio nan Gàidheal have dedicated 2010 to the ‘Year of Gaelic Song’ with an unparalleled line up of programmes on radio and television featuring a wealth of Gaelic singing talent both from the archives and newly produced programmes.

There is a dedicated online resource, offering contextual information about the song writers and performers, song lyrics, audio and video material from the BBC’s archive.

Future programmes will feature famous Gaelic poets including William Mackenzie from Lewis who is generally recognised as Gaeldom’s foremost composer of songs of love and longing, as well as Kenneth MacLeod also from Lewis and Donald MacDonald from North Uist, holder of th Bardic Crown and pictured below.

The schedule for the series is:

• Wednesday 7th April, 20.30: Donald MacIntyre, Domhnall Ruadh Phaislig, from Paisley
• Wednesday 14th April, 20.30: Iain Nicolson, An Sgiobair, from Skye.
• Wednesday 21st April, 20.30: Donald MacDonald, Domhnull Ruadh Choruna, from North Uist
• Wednesday 28th April, 20.30: William MacKenzie, from Lewis
• Wednesday 5th May, 20.30: Donald Allan MacDonald, from South Uist, winner of the Bardic Crown. The Bardic Crown is regarded by many as the premier Gaelic poetry award and is made annually at the Royal National Mod.
• Wednesday 12th May, 20.30: Kenneth MacLeod, ‘Red’, from Point in Lewis.
• Wednesday 19th May, 20.30: compilation of music from the series.

Not being parochial – but we have asked why Duncan Ban MacIntyre, Donnchadh ban Mac an t-Saoir from Glen Orchy is not included in the series. For Argyll’s audience will remember a memorable piece on this great Bard by Mhairi Livingstone Ross, featuring also her own remarkable tribute to him by walking his life in reverse from Edinburgh to Glen Orchy.

BBC ALBA is currently available on Digital Satellite, on Sky 168, Freesat 110 and live on BBC iPlayer. Ten hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Cable. For further information see the BBC Alba website.