Malcolm MacFarlane


Malcolm MacFarlane was a Scottish Gaelic scholar and songwriter. He was a Secretary and President of Gaelic Society of Glasgow and an active member of An Comunn Gàidhealach.

Life

He was born at Kilmun Farm, Dalavich, Loch Awe on 30 November 1853. His father was John MacFarlane, a labourer, and his mother Sarah MacIntyre. He was brought up at Inkerman near Paisley, Renfrewshire and was educated there. He was a 'measurer' by profession — the early name for a quantity surveyor. He was also a member of the Inverness Gaelic Society, the Irish Texts Society, and the Folk Song Society. He was the author of works such as The Phonetics of Gaelic and Songs of the Highlands, Inverness: Logan & Co., 1902. He died unmarried in Greenock on 22 February 1931.

Publications

Books

The Phonetics of the Gaelic Language. With an exposition of the current orthography and a system of phonography. Paisley: J. and R. Parlane, .Orain agus dain - Fo chùram. A. Guinne agus C. Mhic-Phàrlain.. Glasgow: Iain Mac-Aoidh: J. Mackay, 1899. Songs of the Highlands. Inverness: Logan and Co., . Musical accompaniments were supplied by Frederick Wilson Whitehead. These songs include The Thistle o' Scotland, the words of which were translated by MacFarlane from the Gaelic of Evan MacColl.Bardic Melody: a book in which the poems, songs and ditties of the Scottish Gaels are exhibited along with their airs. Stirling: Eneas Mackay, 1908, etc. The School Gaelic Dictionary. Prepared for the use of learners of the Gaelic language. Stirling: Eneas Mackay, 1912.Uirsgeulan Gaidhealach: leis an do choisneadh duaisean aig Mòid A' Chomuinn Ghaidhealaich. Edition: An dara clobhualadh / fo làimh Chaluim Mhic Phàrlain. Struibhle: Aonghas Mac Aoidh, 1912. An Comh-threòraiche. Stirling: Eneas Mackay, 1913.Am Mosgladh Mòr. Glascho : An Comunn Gàidhealach, 1925?. Pdf available from .

Scores

Binneas nam Bàrd, etc. (Bardic Melody. A Book in which the Poems, Songs and Ditties of the Scottish Gaels are exhibited along with their Airs, etc. Words by M. Maclean. Melody and Gaelic words by M. Macfarlane. Edited and arranged by A. W. Marchant. Stirling: E. Mackay, .

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