Heard this tune recently and knew I had heard it before. I have the music already both audio & dots by several players. What I’m looking for is any history and meaning for the tune. I’ve searched and can only find that the tune is an old Irish slow air by Turlough O’Carolan. I was hoping there was a story or interesting history connected.
Friends here say just shut it an play the ecking tune… but I like the history behind a tune so when that little boy or girl asks about the tune I don’t simply say it’s an old Irish slow air.
CAOINEAD AN SPAILPÍN (“The Wandering Laborer’s Lament” or “The Spalpeen’s Lament”). AKA – “Caoineadh an Spailpín.” Irish, Air. Ireland, West Kerry. D Mixolydian/Minor (Mac Amhlaoibh & Durham): G Mixolydian/Dorian (Cranitch): A Mixolydian/Dorian (Ó Canainn). Standard tuning. One part (Cranitch, Ó Canainn): AB (Mac Amhlaoibh & Durham). Mac Amhlaoibh & Durham’s version is in 4/4 time, Cranitch’s in mixed 4/4 and 5/4 time, and Ó Canainn’s in 3/4 time. The subject of the song is the spailpín, or wandering farm laborer, “the most wretched of the many wretched classes in Ireland,” according to the Devon Commission of 1843. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; pg. 114. Mac Amhlaoibh & Durham (An Pota Stóir: Ceol Seite Corca Duibne/The Set Dance Music of West Kerry), No. 88, pg. 50. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland), 1995; No. 66, pg. 59.
I didn’t think to look at the fiddlers as I try to avoid them altogether… whistles rule.
Also, I always thought growing up that I was city folk until I discovered that the family history is stock full of wretched farmers. Maybe there’s a connection.
I don’t think I have ever heard of a link to Carolan. Doesn’t sound like one of his either. I have a hunch Seán O Riada had a hand in it’s current form though : Ceoltóiri Chualan recorded it for the soundtrack of ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ Seán Potts playing the whistle there. Seán suggests in the notes on his ‘Number 6’ that O Riada possibly got the tune from the singing of Seán de hÓra.
Willie Clancy played it on the whistle for ‘The Minstrel from Clare’ (I have at least one recording of him playing it on the pipes, where I don’t feel it works very well), the notes there don’t have any further information.
The Spalpeen’s Complaint, 408 in the Joyce Collection (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), is a completely different song.
and knew I had heard it before. I have the music already both audio & dots by several players. What I’m looking for is any history and meaning for the tune. I’ve searched and can only find that the tune is an old Irish slow air by Turlough O’Carolan. I was hoping there was a story or interesting history connected.
