Can anyone tell me the correct pronunciation and the meaning of this song title?
Thanks!
Giles
Some people will tell you that Si Bheag Si Mor (I am losing some little thingies on letters here) is pronounced Sheebeg Sheemore, and that they are the names of two hills in Ireland. O’Carolan had those two hills in mind when he wrote his very first tune, which Si Bheag Si More is. That’s what some will tell you.
But it is all gibberish, of course. In fact, Si Bheag Si Mor is pronounced “CRACK-mintz Volley-DAWN” (they told you Irish pronunciation makes no sense, right?). In truth, Si Bheag Si Mor refers to the middle name of O’Carolan’s father’s second mistress, the one who caused his mother so much grief that she died. O’Carolan wrote it for his mother’s funeral. That is why the tune is a bit sad, although O’Carolan’s father is said to have insisted on a 3/4 metre (like a waltz) so that he could dance to it.
That’s by far the weirdest explanation to a question I have ever heard! LOL!
Peace be the journey,
Sara
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“You’re just jealous because the little voices are talking to me.”
On 2002-03-09 17:16, Bloomfield wrote:
Some people will tell you that Si Bheag Si Mor (I am losing some little thingies on letters here) is pronounced Sheebeg Sheemore, and that they are the names of two hills in Ireland. O’Carolan had those two hills in mind when he wrote his very first tune, which Si Bheag Si More is. That’s what some will tell you.But it is all gibberish, of course. In fact, Si Bheag Si Mor is pronounced “CRACK-mintz Volley-DAWN” (they told you Irish pronunciation makes no sense, right?). In truth, Si Bheag Si Mor refers to the middle name of O’Carolan’s father’s second mistress, the one who caused his mother so much grief that she died. O’Carolan wrote it for his mother’s funeral. That is why the tune is a bit sad, although O’Carolan’s father is said to have insisted on a 3/4 metre (like a waltz) so that he could dance to it.
Thanks for tickleing my funnybone. I like your humor!!
In conversational Lithuanian, it’s pronounced “Sa bhot, sa cztch”.
She beg, She more–that’s how!
Seems to me you’all is gone round
the bend. Very funny!
I was told it means ‘Big Hill, Little Hill’..although i like the earlier translation better.
Hrmm.. a bodhranist I know of always insists in calling it “She Begs, She Moans”..
I was under the impression that Si Bheag Si Mor means “Big Faery, Little Faery”, “Si”, like a Sidhe Faery. The tune, if I remember rightly, is about a battle between two rivaling Faery mounds/hills (one big and one small). I think it they say it was O’Carolan’s first tune too.
It’s actually a Yiddish term pronounced - “oy-vay-bist-du-mere” - literally translated - “eat my toes, but leave the borscht.”
In my band we call it She Begs For More!
lolly
On 2002-03-09 23:23, Eldarion wrote:
I was under the impression that Si Bheag Si Mor means “Big Faery, Little Faery”, “Si”, like a Sidhe Faery. The tune, if I remember rightly, is about a battle between two rivaling Faery mounds/hills (one big and one small). I think it they say it was O’Carolan’s first tune too.
Not sure about the battle, but the rest of this chimes with what I’ve heard & read, and the big & little faery are indeed names of hills.
The pronunciation is She Beg, She More and here is the history of the song
I found these lyrics from http://www.dnaco.net/~mobrien. I don’t know how accurate they are, so I’m not promising anything…
Oh, great strife came between the kings,
Feuds grew between their Hills, because
Big Hill folk spoke too well of themselves
While Small Hill burned beneath them.
“You can never share rights to our noble lake.
Go into ranks by tribe or town.
Carry your blemish away from us.
Be happy to keep your hands and feet.”
“You cannot always win every fight
On lake, on land, when we contend.
It would be good if you made peace
instead of ordering wars in here.”
Time to gather the hosts, make a striking force.
From throughout the plains, they come marching here.
It will never seem right to die for hills,
Beheaded in that slaughter.
This is why battle pains our hearts:
With Hill princes on every side, and
Tuatha De Danann come in a swarm,
The slaughter is not surprising.
Then it is that the Hill kings lost
The thousands killed on every side.
There was no dwelling not destroyed
In all the killing that day.
“Parley, parley, oh friends and kin!
Our enemy from
Cairn Clann Aoidh,
Comes from Eachlainn Peak, up our
dead troops!”
Now everyone fights together.
Now no one ever will say twice,
“War isn’t caused by too much pride.”
Peace is as good as wars were bad.
The towns in both lands are rebuilding.
Envy first, then an eager host,
Then thousands prisoners in the grave –
Better eat words almost forever
Then have angry brothers on their biers
You might try …
… and click on the link to “Turlough O’Carolan.” On that page you’ll find a short biography of O’Carolan and a lot of information about his music. Click “Carolan tunes in midi format,” then “Sheebeg and Sheemore,” down near the bottom of the page, to find the link to the song’s history.
You might try …
… and click on the link to “Turlough O’Carolan.” On that page you’ll find a short biography of O’Carolan and a lot of information about his music. Click “Carolan tunes in midi format,” then “Sheebeg and Sheemore,” down near the bottom of the page, to find the link to the song’s history.
Hmmmm…Hmmmm… I think I just said that!!
On 2002-03-11 13:23, WhistlingGypsy wrote:
Hmmmm…Hmmmm… I think I just said that!!
Hmmmmm … You certainly did! I got lost in the silliness further up in the page and didn’t see your post. I’ve found Lesley Nelson’s site to be very useful.
Thanks (to both of you)for the O’Carolan link. I just added it to my favorites. Can anyone help me find the animated smilies page again? I’ve lost it. 
Here you go!
http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/
Hmmmmm … You certainly did! I got lost in the silliness further up in the page and didn’t see your post. I’ve found Lesley Nelson’s site to be very useful
Yes Neil it is a very nice and useful site. Lots of good info.
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Cheers
Gerry
Think before you Think before you Talk!
[ This Message was edited by: WhistlingGypsy on 2002-03-11 13:36 ]