ùrlar

chained_bear commented on the word ùrlar

"Píobaireachd takes the basic form of a rondo: a theme and variations with periodic return of the theme. It comprises:

—a 'ground' (or ùrlar, pron: oorlur, which provides the basic theme)

followed by variations of different sorts including perhaps:

—a 'thumb variation' (or siubhal ordaig, pron: shewell ordik) in which high A or high G is substituted for certain notes in the ground

—various other kinds of siubhal which involve pairing themal notes from the ground with lower notes on the chanter such as A or G

—a leumluath (pron: lemla) which combines the themal notes from the ground with a conventional gracenote figure revolving round a tonal centre on E

—a taorluath (pron: toorla), which combines the themal notes from the ground with a different conventional gracenote combination centering on A

—a crunluath (pron: croonla), which combines the themal notes from the ground with still different gracenote combinations.

There are other types of variation, but the above are the most common."

—William Donaldson, Pipers: A Guide to the Players and Music of the Highland Bagpipe (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2005), 28

July 31, 2008

sionnach commented on the word ùrlar

Some hints:

'urlar' is just Gaelic for 'floor'.

'siubhal' or 'siul' is a walk

'ordog' (probably 'ordag' in Scots Gaelic) is a thumb

So 'siubhal ordaig' just means "a walk for the thumb".

'luath' means 'early', but I don't recognize the various prefixes.

July 31, 2008