Scottish Gaelic Song: Òran Mòr

Scottish Gaelic Song: Òran Mòr

Intangible Heritage

Òran Mòr ("Great Song") refers to a body of traditional Scottish Gaelic songs passed down through oral tradition for centuries in the Highlands and Islands. These songs reflect the emotional, social, and historical identity of Gaelic-speaking communities. They range from laments to love songs, work chants to epic ballads, often sung unaccompanied or with minimal instrumentation. Today, organizations and cultural initiatives actively work to record, perform, and teach these songs to younger generations. This intangible cultural heritage contributes to the preservation of the endangered Scottish Gaelic language and the revitalization of Highland identity in Scotland.

Scottish Gaelic-speaking communities

is51102025

c. 17th century - present

zhangdi

Scottish Gaelic

Intangible

1353

25/03/2025

https://ich.unesco.org/en/what-is-intangible-heritage-00003

cm x cm x cm

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage resources; Historic Environment Scotland

current,57.2535,-6.1976;

TEXT

Scottish Gaelic songs have a long and rich history dating back to the early modern period (c. 1600s) and possibly earlier. These songs were traditionally transmitted orally within communities in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, including areas such as Skye, the Outer Hebrides, and Argyll. They served diverse social and cultural functions — from storytelling, ritual, and work rhythms (such as waulking songs), to lullabies and expressions of love or grief. Many of these songs are deeply tied to the Gaelic worldview and environment, evoking landscape, kinship, and seasonal cycles. Although the number of native Gaelic speakers declined in the 19th and 20th centuries due to anglicisation and migration, revival efforts began in the late 20th century. Today, Gaelic songs are preserved through community performances, schools, folk festivals, and digital archives, sustaining a living link to Scotland’s Celtic heritage.

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