WA
Waulking song
Waulking songs () are Scottish folk songs, traditionally sung in the Gaelic language by women while fulling (waulking) cloth. This practice involved a group of women, who traditionally prepared
In media#
The song “Ebudæ” by Enya derives its melody from a Hebridean waulking song. Ebudae is the Latin name for the Hebrides. The act of waulking, complete with a song, was showcased in season 1 of the television series Outlander. As Claire Fraser travels the Mackenzie lands with her eventual husband Jamie’s party to collect rents, she spends time with a group of women who are waulking wool. The act of waulking, including a song and the phrase “waulking the tweed,” is shown in the season 9 Christmas special of Call The Midwife. When the midwives journey to the Outer Hebrides, one of their patients participates in waulking tweed, which is shown as a communal activity for the island’s women.
See also#
- Long Èireannach
- Puirt à beul
- Dadeumi, a traditional Korean practice of beating cloth to a musical rhythm
External links#
- Waulking Song AI Enhanced 1941 Film by Jack Cardiff of Powell & Pressburger fame in 1940/ 41
- Information about waulking and milling from the Halifax, Nova Scotia Gaelic milling group An Cliath Clis.
- Lyrics and recordings of a large number of milling songs, at MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada.
- More information on waulking songs at HouseOfScotland.com.
- Genre family
- Work music