I have an arrangement of it by John L. Bell called THE LAST JOURNEY.
Written in fine print on this choral arrangement is that the original tune…“according to legend” was used as ancient Scottish kings were, after death, rowed to their resting place on the island of Iona.
The words to this new arrangement are beautiful. If interested you can find the choral arrangement through http://www.giamusic.com
G-4535
Yesterday I played my newly acquired Kerry-Pro low G at a funeral service. The whistle added so much to the service. Quite reflective when played as a solo.
Many thanks to Thom at The Whistle Shop.
Perfect timing.
Are there anymore traditional celtic tunes that would be appropriate for funerals?
Laura
[ This Message was edited by: hillfolk22 on 2002-01-22 09:09 ]
Any tune is appropriate I suppose if it is fitting to the person you are saying goodbye to. I have been to and played at too many funerals in recent years of musician friends. Their favourite music was played, dance tunes as well as slow music. The ‘the Lament for the Wild geese’ came up. An Buachaill Caol Dubh, Caionneadh ui Neill, Taimse im choladh are other possible choices I have heard played.
I add to those ‘Easter Snow’ and ‘A stor mo chroi’ (‘A stor mo chroi, when you you are far away, from the land you’ll soon be leaving..’)
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-01-23 06:46 ]
Are there anymore traditional celtic tunes that would be appropriate for funerals?
O’Carolan wrote a number of laments for late-departed friends. And, it’s said, he even wrote one for himself, “O’Carolan’s farewell to music,” one of the most beautiful and sad tunes I’ve ever heard. He wrote a bunch of other longing tunes that I think would also go well.
His complete works have been published by Ossian, and I believe are still available. There are some real gems in there that I’ve never heard recorded nor seen in any of the online tune books.
I’ll second Peter’s suggestion of “Táimse 'im Chodladh”. I love that air. Another couple of good Scottish tunes would be “Flowers of the Forest” and “Skye Boat Song”.
Of the tunes Peter named only Caionneadh ui Neill does not appear in “110 Ireland’s Best Slow Airs” by Waltons, Order wm1311, with companion double CD wm1327.
Most of the tunes are indexed under their Gaelic titles, so it helps if you know someone who can help with pronunciation. The English translation is also given for each on its page.
The tunes on the CDs are played on a variety of instruments, pipes, fiddle, accordion, flute, harp and whistle, depending on the tune. Almost all the tunes can be played on the whistle without re-arrangement, however.
You put me on the spot there, well, from memory: Easter Snow, recorded by Seamus Ennis and as well by Liam O Flynn (with Ennis’ daughter on the church organ), A stor mo chroi, Flynn again on ‘Bringing it all back home’ a sung version by iarla O Lionard on Noel Hill & Tony mcMahon’s ‘Aishling Gael’ (and you haven’t lived until you have Mick Flynn from Freagh, Miltown Malbay sing it), The Wild Geese on Ronan Browne’s The wynd you know and Caiominh O Rahallaigh’s CD, Buachail Caol Dubh on Drones & chanters vol 1 and I think on Jimmy O Brien Moran’s CD
Tainse im choladh on one of the Chieftain’s and Planxty’s ‘woman I loved so well’.
As for printed music: I have posted Taimse im choladh to the board a while ago after Dale put on a version from O Neill’s that was not resembling the usual one. The Wild Geese is in a harp transcription in the Bunting collection, I could scan it for you but you need to listen to a played version before trying (promise, it’s also in a bit of an unusual key in the print, I may have th Buachail Caol Dubh too. I’ll attempt a few scans if want them.
As for printed music: I have posted Taimse im choladh to the board a while ago after Dale put on a version from O Neill’s that was not resembling the usual one.
Peter, I missed your posting of Taimse Im Chodladh and haven’t been successful in finding it in the archives after reading your message here. Could you please let me know the approximate date you made it, or the thread name? If memory of these has faded, would you mind posting the air again?
Hm, october-november like, I copied it after Dale posted that other version and e-mailed it o him. He actually stuck my scan on the board after someone complained the initial post didn’t print well. It was a version from Tadgh Crowleys 1936 tutor for the pipes so you get a free regulator part thrown in.
I just wanted to second something that Peter touched on in his first post. Any tune appropriate to the person may be played. If the one who’s passed had a favorite tune, replaying it at the funeral, may be appropriate. A number of jigs and reels, slowed and played off tempo as a slow airs, may provide comfort while not disturbing the somberness of the occasion.
For me, I hope a musician friend will play my favorite, Morrison’s Jig, in such a manner when I graduate from this life to the next. A gentle reminder to those I leave behind of the joy we shared togeather and will miss until they come to join me. I also hope they’ll play it again spritely and up to tempo at the party afterwards.
(Excuse me if I also hope that doesn’t occur for half a century or more by which time another tune may have become may favorite.)
Hope this adds to your effort so that even at somber occasions, others may be comforted and …
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-01-23 17:11 ]
Paddy Moloney wrote a very sad sounding lament called “White Potatoes” which he plays on the pipes to accompany a poem about the Great Famine. It is available on the CD “Long Journey Home”. If they play that at my funeral even I will cry!
“The Parting Glass” as sung at the end of the movie “Waking Ned Devine” was a send off to a dead comrade that is about as good as it gets! However, I’m not sure if it would translate that well to the whistle.
“O’Carolan’s Farwell to Music” that Charlie mentioned is available on the CELTOPHILE CD “Gentle Breeze” Celtic Music for Flute and Whistle. I quite agree with him that it is a very beautiful piece.
Best wishes, Tom
P.S. I forgot to mention that the sound track for Waking Ned Devine is available on CD.
[ This Message was edited by: Tom_Gaul on 2002-01-23 19:11 ]
On 2002-01-24 08:07, hillfolk22 wrote:
…
Amhran A Leabhair. What is the english translation to this tune?
…
The 110 Ireland’s Best Slow Airs sounds like a good start.
Thanks again,
Laura
From the note in the book, 110 Irelands Best Slow Airs (track 5, page 6), Amhran na Leabhar - “The Song of the Books; also known as Cuan Bheil Inse.”
Lee had it right there, the song of the Books or Valentia Island is about the books of schoolteacher Conor, Master Riordan, he was tranfered fro mone school to the other, while crossing the bay the boat overturned and al his posessions were lost. On firm ground again he composed a lament for his lost books.
The usual version of it is in Em, Seamus ennis however played it in Gm on the pipes, creating a wonderful effect against the drones. He recorded it on ‘The pure drop’ and the above is an extract from his sleeve notes
On 2002-01-24 10:29, Peter Laban wrote:
Lee had it right there, the song of the Books or Valentia Island is about the books of schoolteacher Conor, Master Riordan, he was tranfered fro mone school to the other, while crossing the bay the boat overturned and al his posessions were lost. On firm ground again he composed a lament for his lost books.
How sad. I would lament if I lost all of my educational resources too. One can sink a small fortune in books.
Then perhaps this song is appropriate.
I just recently lost a friend who was a school teacher. I did not have the honor of playing at her funeral service.
Yet I found great comfort as I thought of her while I played this tune at home.
This has been a very helpful thread to me.
I can’t write it enough.
THANK YOU
[ This Message was edited by: hillfolk22 on 2002-01-25 12:28 ]
