'Dark Age' poetry from Pictish hillfort in Aberdeenshire.

Scots piper Jimi McRae recites sixth century 'Old Welsh' poetry at a massive Pictish hillfort atop the 'Mither Tap' on Bennachie in Aberdeenshire.
Music is by guitarist Neil Warden. Bagpipes and jaw harp by McRae.
The poem Gweith Gwen Ystrat (The Battle of the fair valley) is attributed to the legendary celtic bard Taliesin and is believed to have been composed sometime during the sixth century AD.
The Picts are mentioned in the poem. They are referred to as Prydyn, the old Welsh word for Pictland.
The poem tells the tale of a battle in the valley of Gwen (possibly the Eden valley in modern Cumbria) at which a sixth Century celtic King called Urien and his men ambush and vanquish a raiding war band.
At first reading the raiders appear to be the Picts.
However, the late great Welsh scholar Sir Ifor Williams believed a reference in the complete original text to 'pale faces' - a slang term for fair skinned Angles - perhaps indicated that the Picts had in fact been fighting alongside King Urien as 'Cymbrogi' (cultural and linguistic brothers) as allies against the Angles.
Urien is recorded as being the King of Rheged, a kingdom many scholars believe was based around the Solway Firth. Ancient Welsh language sources also name Taliesin as Urien's personal bard.
What exactly was going on we will probably never know for sure. However, visitors to the remains of a dark age hill fort near Gatehouse of Fleet on the Solway Firth can marvel at the most southern Pictish stone carvings ever found in the UK.
The classic Pictish designs of a double disc and Z-Rod plus a 'Pictish beast' are carved near the summit of the former stronghold at Trusty's hill. Recent archaeological studies have shown that this fort was a 'high status', prestigious dwelling during the time of King Urien himself.
Perhaps Trusty's hill was indeed a royal residence and the Picts left their distinctive carvings to symbolise a bond of friendship, overlordship or possibly even a marriage between Urien, his family and a Pictish warrior, Prince or Princess.
Interesting to think about but we will probably never know for sure.
Diolch!

[@JohnSilver-un8qy]

Benachie. What a grand place. Its very presence speaks of a proud and ancient land.

[@andreandandre]

Thank you!

[@davidvaughn367]

That is Awesome on so many levels,I don't know where to begin.

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@RabSpaniel]

Och this is really Ry Cooder meets Jimi a la Buena vista -One of his very best to date

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

Thank you very much. Cheers amigo. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@KrisHughes]

Ah Jimi - yer a man after my own heart! I was thinking of this poem only yesterday. Bloodied men at the ford laid their swords at the feet of the gray-haired king ...

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

Diolch Kris. Glad you enjoyed. Hope all good. Slainte 😎👍

[@KrisHughes]

@@Jimi-the-piper. All the better for starting my day with this! Hope you're well!

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

​@@KrisHughesDa iawn diolch. Prysur a hapus. Parch i ti Kris👍

[@briganfree3656]

Yes the poem great diolch yn fawr. Now we must talk about the music. You are seen playing guitar. I thought it was Bonnemassa when I heard it. If that was you then it is a genius that you are. This video is sublime and the music perfect.

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

@@briganfree3656 Thank you for the positivity. Much appreciated. The guitarist is my friend and co-writer Neil Warden - not me! I supply the jaw harp sounds and the pipes at end. Have just released an ep of our joint work, this is available to hear in all the usual places (Spotify, Band camp, ITunes etc) I plan to release a second ep which will include Gweith Gwen Ystrat and at least one more track in the 'Old Welsh' later this year.
Neil is a fantastic guitarist with terrific versatility. Here's a link for more info about Neil. Cheers 👍 neilwarden.wixsite.com/guitarist

[@neilgrew6609]

Da iawn jimi
Nice to see the rise of the yaith cymru

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

Diolch Mae wedi bod yma erioed mewn enwau lleoedd a thafodieithoedd Albanaidd iseldir. Amser i gofleidio'r Gymraeg eto. Rhan annatod o wir hanes yr Ynysoedd hyn.

[@KrisHughes]

Jimi - I meant to ask you - is that Marged Haycock's translation you've go up on the screen?

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

Sir Iffor Williams in modern parlance.

[@hermit335]

alba gú bráth.

[@eppynt]

Ardderchog

[@Jimi-the-piper.]

Diolch!