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Each year, the choir enters the Sherrif MacMaster Campbell Competition (four-part, mixed voices) and the Puirt-a-beul Competition (mouth music) for Rural Choirs at the Royal National Mod. Our ladies also enter the Rural Ladies' competition which usually has a three or four-part set piece.

The best part of the year is spent working on these pieces and we then have a few practice runs at smaller, Provincial Mods.

For the Sherrif MacMaster, mixed voices competition, we sing a prescribed piece and an own choice piece. The own choice piece should be a good contrast to the set piece and (allegedly) show off the choir's strengths!

The puirt-a-beul competition usually consists of two or three tunes, eg a Strathspey and Reel or a Strathspey, Reel and Jig. The rhythm of the dance is the over-riding consideration in this competition. Some of these songs came about to preserve the instrumental tunes when instruments were proscribed in the wake of the Jacobite rebellions. The words are usually nonsense words which allow the singers to keep a strong beat for the dancers.

INVERNESS

SET PIECE
Braigh Rusgaich (The Braes of Rusgaich)

OWN CHOICE
Allt an t-Siùcair (The Sugar Burn)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Tha bainn' aig na caoirich uile (All the sheep have milk) Reel - Bodachan a Ghàraidh

PORTREE

SET PIECE
Tugainn Leam Thar Sàile (Come with me across the sea)

OWN CHOICE
An Gaol a Thug Mi Òg (The love I gave when young)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Haoidealan Dubh, Reel - Fear a Choire

1
9

9

9

FORT WILLIAM

SET PIECE
Mo Rùn Chailin (My darling girl)

OWN CHOICE
Nuair Thig Oirnn An Samhradh (When Summer comes upon us)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Cha tòir Iain Mòr an nighean dhomh (Big Iain won't give his daughter to me), Reel - Biodag aig MacThòmais (MacThomas has a wee dirk)

DUNOON

SET PIECE
Domhnall an Dannsair (Donald the dancer)

OWN CHOICE
An Eala Bhàn (The white swan)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Mìrean, mìrean, muig, muig, (Bits of crumbs) Reel - Siud an rud a thoghadh m' fhonn, Jig - Riobainean rìomhach (beautiful ribbons)

2
0

0

1

STORNOWAY

SET PIECE
Eilean Leodhais, Tir nan Gaisgeach (Isle of Lewis, Land of Heroes)

OWN CHOICE
Nam Aonar Le Mo Smaointean
(Alone With My Thoughts)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Seice Ruaraidh , Reel - Ruidhle an Gille Cam, Jig - Fear an Duinmhòir (The Laird of Dunmore)

LARGS

SET PIECE
Cèol nan Teud (Music of the Strings)

OWN CHOICE
Cèol nan Cruinneag (Music of the Young Women)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - U-bhi, a-bhi, Reels - Mac-a-Phì, Stad a Mhàiri Bhanarach

2
0

0

3

OBAN

SET PIECE
Caol Muile (The Sound of Mull)

OWN CHOICE
Gur Gile Mo Leannain (How White is My Love)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Fhir a dh'ith am bonnach mor, (The man who ate the big bannock Reel - Tha toll air a' bhata mhor (There's a hole in the big boat)

PERTH

SET PIECE
Air fail ail ail o

OWN CHOICE
Cumha Coire Cheathaich (Lament for the Misty Corrie)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Nuair bha mi na mo mhaighdinn, (When I was a young lass) Reel - B'fhearr mar a bha mi'n uirridh (I prefer how I was last year)

2
0

0

5

STORNOWAY

SET PIECE
Teann a-nall (Comeover)

OWN CHOICE
Maraiche nan Cuantan (Sailor of the Seas)

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - 'S math a dhannsadh Uisdean Friseal, (Hugh Fraser dances well) Reel - Cha robh trì truinnsearan (There weren't even three plates)

DUNOON

SET PIECE
An Gaol a Thug Mi Òg (The love I gave when young)

OWN CHOICE
Still to be decided

PUIRT-A-BEUL
Strathspey - Bhon chuir mo leannan cùlaibh rium, Jig - Dh'fhalbhainn sgiobalta Reel - Ruidhleadh mo nighean donn