An ancient Manx musical tradition is being given a new lease of life through a collection of songs written by one of the island’s leading traditional musicians.

Isla Callister has created four new songs, known as ‘purt y beeal’ (mouth music). They are designed to accompany dancing and draw inspiration from fragments of the island’s musical and cultural heritage.

The songs have been released online by Culture Vannin, alongside demonstration videos, introductions explaining their history and free downloadable sheet music.

Supported by a grant from Culture Vannin as part of Blein ny Gaelgey – Year of the Manx Language – the project aims to preserve and develop the tradition of singing for dancing, while encouraging people to create their own songs.

Purt y beeal is a form of Manx Gaelic singing traditionally used to accompany dancing. While many people will be familiar with songs associated with Hunt the Wren and Hop tu Naa, there are other examples of the tradition within the island's musical heritage.

The four new pieces explore different aspects of Manx life, two of the songs, ‘Billy Bhoy Boght’ (Poor Billy Boy) and ‘Juan Shooyl’ (Johnnie Walker's), also feature newly composed dances.

Gráinne Joughin performs the dance for ‘Billy Bhoy Boght’ with her son, Frank, while Isla's sister, Maeve Callister-Wafer, dances alongside Cesar Joughin for ‘Juan Shooyl’.

The latter takes its name from the playful Manx translation of Johnnie Walker's whisky, coined by legendary Manx speaker John Kneen, who was known as ‘the Gaaue’.

Manx music development officer at Culture Vannin, Dr Chloë Woolley, said: ‘We have come to expect fantastic things from Isla Callister, but we were amazed with the new songs she has created – how fun they are, how they fit so perfectly with the living tradition, and how brilliantly researched they are using obscure fragments of our cultural heritage.’

Isla said: ‘We've lost a lot of our melodies, songs and dances and the stories that went along with them and that's incredibly sad.’

‘However, the people that came before us left behind a lot of clues and I've loved following them. These songs are a result of that and I hope people change the words, write their own songs and dances and add to our growing tradition of purt y beeal!’

The project also features contributions from other figures in traditional Manx music, including Maeve Callister-Wafer, Cesar Joughin and Ruth Keggin.

Isla, who grew up in Peel, previously performed with Manx bands including Scran before studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

She has since built a career with award-winning groups TRIP and Heisk, alongside a number of Manx-focused projects, including her acclaimed Creeaght project in 2022-23.

The release comes ahead of the launch of her first solo album, Myr Grian, which celebrates the Manx Gaelic language and its influence on the island's music, culture and identity.

The album will be launched with a concert at St German's Cathedral in Peel on Saturday, November 28.

All four new songs, their accompanying videos and sheet music are available free through the Culture Vannin website.