Duan Albanach
The Duan Albanach is a Middle Gaelic poem Written during the reign of Mael Coluim III, it is found in a variety of Irish sources, and the usual version comes from the Book of Lecan and Book of Ui Maine.
It follows on from the Duan Eireannach, which covers the earlier mythological history of the Gael. was an instrument associated with medieval Scottish culture. This one, now in the Museum of Scotland, is one of only three surviving medieval Gaelic harps.
It is a praise poem of 27 stanzas, probably sung at court to a musical accompaniment by the harp. If performed in a public context, it is possible that the audience would have participated in the performance.
The Duan recounts the kings of the Scots since the eponymous Albanus came to Alba. The poem begins with the following stanzas.
In the final stanzas it is seen that the poem dates from the time of Malcolm III, in the second half of the 11th century.
