Description
Also known by its English title, ‘The Christ Child’s Lullaby’ this is one of only a handful of Scottish carols, with poetry written in Scottish Gaelic by Father Ranald Rankin (c.1855). Two similar versions are included on this two-page PDF, both of them ethereal melodies set in the key of D-modal (Mixolydian). Rolling harmony parts (for both versions), chord symbols, and first verse lyrics in Scottish Gaelic and English are included.
[NB: Both the melody and harmony require the nontraditional note C-natural. This can be played on conically-bored chanters —e.g. Highland and Border pipes— with a ‘cross’ or ‘forked’ fingering pattern. On cylindrically-bored chanters without custom features —e.g. standard smallpipe chanters— you may need to apply a piece of tuning tape over the top 80% of the C soundhole.]
This is one of over 100 carols printed in the collection, On This Day Earth Shall Ring.
An audio sample, featuring Scottish smallpipes (A-chanter, with a custom C-natural hole for the lower thumb [tape will work, too]). Version 1 is heard without harmony, followed by version 2 with a harmony part that is very similar to the harmony part for version 1: