An Cór Ceilteach - The Celtic Arts Center's Choir

Originally started by a group of members with a passion for singing, the willingness to learn songs in Irish-Gaelic, and the gumption to sing them in front of live audiences, the Celtic Arts Center choir has blossomed into a vibrant part of the organization. We hold the distinction of being the only choir in the United States (possibly the world!) performing songs in Irish-Gaelic. With the invaluable help of the Center’s talented language instructor and choir founder Tim Martin and the enduring dedication of its members, the choir has become a key part of the Center's mission – to preserve and promote the arts, languages, and cultures of all the Celtic nations. Then under the direction of the Celtic Arts Center's Director of Music, Ken O’Malley, we polished our skills, grew in numbers, and expanded our repertoire to include songs in the languages of all the Celtic nations. Currently we’re lead by a committee of members which is chaired by Eva Gordon – ACS/CAC's Scottish-Gaelic instructor, and now our repertoire is flush with Gàidhlig songs of the Highlands, Isles, and even Cape Breton. We remain committed to continuing the choir’s progress of learning and performing new and old material and maintaining the level of excellence in our performances.

In the past, the choir has performed at the Great American Irish Fair - Los Angeles, the LA County Irish Fair & Music Festival, on the radio with the California Artists Radio Theatre, at the Seaside Highland Games, and a telecast performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the LA County Arts Commission's 43rd Annual Holiday Celebration on Christmas Eve! In September of 2004, we accompanied Ken O’Malley & The Twilight Lords in roof-raising renditions of “Mo Ghile Mear” and “Óró ‘Sé Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile” at the Ford Amphitheatre. That performance was such a hit that local cable channel LA36 played recorded excerpts from that evening throughout January 2005. We've held our own concerts at the Celtic Arts Center as well as participating in the Center's seasonal events such as the annual Robert Burns Night celebration every January. Our last performance on stage was at the Seaside Highland Games in Ventura, CA in October 2011. Our next performance will be at the Center's Dylan Thomas Celebration at The Missing Piece Theatre in Burbank, CA on November 11, 2011.

Interested In Joining?
Got a great voice? Like to sing? Like to learn to sing great traditional Irish, Scottish, and Welsh songs? Come join us in the Center's choir! We're looking for dedicated vocal exhibitionists who can sing like the birds of Rhiannon and who'd like to learn to do it in the some of the Celtic languages! Not everyone has to perform, but that is half the fun of it! We strive towards excellence and hope to provide the unique experience of hearing traditional songs in their original form and language.

The location of choir rehearsals is currently at a private residence on Monday nights. Every now and then, on the first Monday of the month we might gather at the Center and sing a song or two around 9:45-10PM. If you'd like to meet us and ask questions... that's the best time to do so. Or contact the choir’s leadership committee, via e-mail and someone will eventually respond. But remember that we're all volunteers, which means things sometimes move as fast as a river of treacle.

Our Repertoire of Songs

Irish-Gaelic Songs:
- Aililiú Na Gamhna (Horay for Young Milkcows)
- Amhrán na bhFiann (Irish National Anthem)
- An Dreoilín (The Wren)
- An Poc Ar Buile (The Mad Puck Goat)
- Báidín Fheilimí (Filum's Little Boat)
- Beannaigh an Tí Seo (Bless This House)
- Bheir Mé Ó (My Darling)
- Beidh Aonach Amárach (There's A Fair Tomorrow)
- Brid Óg Ní Mháille (Bridget O'Malley)
- Cluineadh Ceol (Angels We've Heard On High)
- Deirín Dé (The Last Wisp of Smoke)
- Dúlamán (Seaweed)
- Éamann An Chnoic (Ned of the Hill)
- I nGarran Na Bhile (In Garran Na Bhile)
- Mo Ghile Mear (My Gallant Darling)
- Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night)
- Óró ‘Sé Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile (Oh You're Welcome Home)
- Portláirge (Waterford)
- Rince Philip A' Cheoil (Dance of Musical Philip)
- ‘Sí Do Mhamó Í (She's Your Granny)
- Siúil A Rúin (Go My Love )
- Thugamar Féin An Samhradh Linn (We Have Brought the Summer In)
- Trasna na Dtonnta (Over the Waves)

* JUST ADDED or UPDATED
More to be posted later!

Irish Songs:
- A Nation Once Again
- Believe Me (If All Those Endearing Young Charms)
- Fields of Athenry
- The Foggy Dew
- The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
- In Ireland Again
- Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears
- The Skillet Pot
- Sweet Carnloch Bay (version 1)
- Sweet Carnloch Bay (version 2)
- The Minstrel Boy
- The Mountains of Mourne
- The West's Awake
- The Wren

Scots-Gaelic Songs:
- A Sheana-Bhean Bhochd (The Glengarry March)
- Air Sgàth Nan Iomadh Linn (Auld Lang Syne)
- Air Sgàth Nan Iomadh Linn 2006 (w/ Scots ending)
- Am Muileann Dubh (The Black Mill reel - Puirt-a-Beul)
- Bheir Mo Sgriob Do Thobar Mhoire (I'll Take A Trip To Tobermory)
- Beir Soiridh, Soiridh Bhuam (Take Greetings From Me - waulking)
- Buain A'Choirce (Reaping The Oats - waulking)
- Buain Na Rainich...Tha Mi Sgìth (Reaping The Bracken - milling)
- Calum Crùbach (Lame Calum Strathspey - - Puirt-a-Beul)
- Ciamar A Nì Mi An Dannsa Dìreach? (How Will I Do The Dance Properly? - Puirt-a-Beul jig) *
- Cearcall A’Chuain (Circle of the Ocean)
- Cùm Ur N-Aire (Keep In Mind)
- Curach Brighde (Bride's Coracle)
- Chaorainn, A Chaorainn (Lump Of Peat - - Puirt-a-Beul)
- Chì Mi Na Mòrbheanna (I See the Great Mountains)
- Chì Mi’n Toman (I See the Hillock)
- Crò Chinn t-Sàile (The Cattlefold of Kintail) *
- Dilli O Iodalam ("Jilly-O-Ee-Tah-Lum" - - Puirt-a-Beul)
- Fear A’Bhàta (A Boatman)
- Fosgail An Dorus (Open The Door - - Puirt-a-Beul)
- Gràdh Geal Mo Chridh’ (Fair Love of My Heart)
- Heire Bannag, Hoire Bannag (Christmas Chant)
- Hè Mo Leannan (Hey My Sweetheart)
- Nighean Bhuaidh’ Ruadh (Russet-haired Daughter - - Puirt-a-Beul) *
- Oidhche Mhath Leibh (Good Night Too You All)
- Òran Na Maighdinn Mhara (Song Of The Mermaid) *
- ‘S Ann An Ìle (It's In Islay - - Puirt-a-Beul)
- ‘S Fliuch An Oidhche (Wet Is The Night - waulking)
- ‘S Gann Gun Dìrich Mi Chaoidh (I'll Never Climb Again)
- ‘S Iomadh Rud A Chunnaic Mi (Many Things I Saw - - Puirt-a-Beul) *
- Taladh Chrìosda (Christ Child Lullaby)
- Truis Na h-Òisgean Don A'Chrò ("Ca' The Yowes To The Knowes" -- Robert Burns) *

Scottish Songs:
- The Burning of Auchindoun
- Flower of Scotland
- Flow Gently, Sweet Afton (Robert Burns)
- Green Grow The Rashes, O! (Robert Burns)
- I Love A Lassie (Sir Harry Lauder – Scots-English)
- I Once Loved A Lass *
- Màiri's Wedding (English w/Gàidhlig chorus)
- The Muckin’ O’Geordie's Byre (Scots-English)
- My Heart's In The Highlands (English w/Gàidhlig chorus)*
- Road Tae Dundee (Alt. lyrics to Sweet Carnloch Bay)
- Scotland The Brave
- Scots Wha Hae (Robert Burns – Scots-English)
- Skye Boat Song
- Westering Home (Sir Hugh S. Roberton – Scots-English)*
- Ye Banks And Braes (Robert Burns – Scots-English)

Cymru (Welsh) Songs:
- Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through The Night)
- Cainc Yr Aradwr (The Ploughman's Tune) *
- Mari Lwyd [ WARNING: this is a work in progress. ]
- Myfanwy
- Suo-Gân (Lullaby)

Welsh Songs:
- We’ll Keep A Welcome

Irish-Gaelic Songs: - Aililiú Na Gamhna (Horay for Young Milkcows) - Amhrán na bhFiann (Irish National Anthem) - An Dreoilín (The Wren) - An Poc Ar Buile (The Mad Puck Goat) - Báidín Fheilimí (Filum's Little Boat) - Beannaigh an Tí Seo (Bless This House) - Bheir Mé Ó (My Darling) - Beidh Aonach Amárach (There's A Fair Tomorrow) - Brid Óg Ní Mháille (Bridget O'Malley) - Cluineadh Ceol (Angels We've Heard On High) - Deirín Dé (The Last Wisp of Smoke) - Dúlamán (Seaweed) - Éamann An Chnoic (Ned of the Hill) - I nGarran Na Bhile (In Garran Na Bhile) - Mo Ghile Mear (My Gallant Darling) - Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night) - Óró ‘Sé Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile (Oh You're Welcome Home) - Portláirge (Waterford) - Rince Philip A' Cheoil (Dance of Musical Philip) - ‘Sí Do Mhamó Í (She's Your Granny) - Siúil A Rúin (Go My Love ) - Thugamar Féin An Samhradh Linn (We Have Brought the Summer In) - Trasna na Dtonnta (Over the Waves) * JUST ADDED or UPDATED More to be posted later!	Irish Songs: - A Nation Once Again - Believe Me (If All Those Endearing Young Charms) - Fields of Athenry - The Foggy Dew - The Gartan Mother's Lullaby - In Ireland Again - Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears - The Skillet Pot - Sweet Carnloch Bay (version 1) - Sweet Carnloch Bay (version 2) - The Minstrel Boy - The Mountains of Mourne - The West's Awake - The Wren
Scots-Gaelic Songs: - A Sheana-Bhean Bhochd (The Glengarry March) - Air Sgàth Nan Iomadh Linn (Auld Lang Syne) - Air Sgàth Nan Iomadh Linn 2006 (w/ Scots ending) - Am Muileann Dubh (The Black Mill reel - Puirt-a-Beul) - Bheir Mo Sgriob Do Thobar Mhoire (I'll Take A Trip To Tobermory) - Beir Soiridh, Soiridh Bhuam (Take Greetings From Me - waulking) - Buain A'Choirce (Reaping The Oats - waulking) - Buain Na Rainich...Tha Mi Sgìth (Reaping The Bracken - milling) - Calum Crùbach (Lame Calum Strathspey - - Puirt-a-Beul) - Ciamar A Nì Mi An Dannsa Dìreach? (How Will I Do The Dance Properly? - Puirt-a-Beul jig) * - Cearcall A’Chuain (Circle of the Ocean) - Cùm Ur N-Aire (Keep In Mind) - Curach Brighde (Bride's Coracle) - Chaorainn, A Chaorainn (Lump Of Peat - - Puirt-a-Beul) - Chì Mi Na Mòrbheanna (I See the Great Mountains) - Chì Mi’n Toman (I See the Hillock) - Crò Chinn t-Sàile (The Cattlefold of Kintail) * - Dilli O Iodalam ("Jilly-O-Ee-Tah-Lum" - - Puirt-a-Beul) - Fear A’Bhàta (A Boatman) - Fosgail An Dorus (Open The Door - - Puirt-a-Beul) - Gràdh Geal Mo Chridh’ (Fair Love of My Heart) - Heire Bannag, Hoire Bannag (Christmas Chant) - Hè Mo Leannan (Hey My Sweetheart) - Nighean Bhuaidh’ Ruadh (Russet-haired Daughter - - Puirt-a-Beul) * - Oidhche Mhath Leibh (Good Night Too You All) - Òran Na Maighdinn Mhara (Song Of The Mermaid) * - ‘S Ann An Ìle (It's In Islay - - Puirt-a-Beul) - ‘S Fliuch An Oidhche (Wet Is The Night - waulking) - ‘S Gann Gun Dìrich Mi Chaoidh (I'll Never Climb Again) - ‘S Iomadh Rud A Chunnaic Mi (Many Things I Saw - - Puirt-a-Beul) * - Taladh Chrìosda (Christ Child Lullaby) - Truis Na h-Òisgean Don A'Chrò ("Ca' The Yowes To The Knowes" -- Robert Burns) *	Scottish Songs: - The Burning of Auchindoun - Flower of Scotland - Flow Gently, Sweet Afton (Robert Burns) - Green Grow The Rashes, O! (Robert Burns) - I Love A Lassie (Sir Harry Lauder – Scots-English) - I Once Loved A Lass * - Màiri's Wedding (English w/Gàidhlig chorus) - The Muckin’ O’Geordie's Byre (Scots-English) - My Heart's In The Highlands (English w/Gàidhlig chorus)* - Road Tae Dundee (Alt. lyrics to Sweet Carnloch Bay) - Scotland The Brave - Scots Wha Hae (Robert Burns – Scots-English) - Skye Boat Song - Westering Home (Sir Hugh S. Roberton – Scots-English)* - Ye Banks And Braes (Robert Burns – Scots-English)
Cymru (Welsh) Songs: - Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through The Night) - Cainc Yr Aradwr (The Ploughman's Tune) * - Mari Lwyd [ WARNING: this is a work in progress. ] - Myfanwy - Suo-Gân (Lullaby)	Welsh Songs: - We’ll Keep A Welcome