Laments and Ballads?

Whistle
1

I’m looking for laments and ballads (sort of a personal research project :slight_smile:) and was wondering if some of you could share some names of ones you enjoy playing/hearing? Especially ones that evoke an emotional response in you…

Thanks,
Andrea ~*~



[ This Message was edited by: aderyn_cyrdd on 2002-09-26 14:40 ]

2

“Barbara Allen” is always good.

“The Holland Handkerchief” will raise all the hair on the back of your neck, as will “She Moved Through the Fair.”

I can’t hear “The Parting of Friends” without remembering sadness.

And of course “The Parting Glass.”

Best wishes and BB

–James
http://www.flutesite.com

3

The old man rocking the cradle…

4

Women of Ireland.
Cheers.
Byll

5

An Speic Seoigheach and limerick’s lament.

6

Anything from Cara Dillon’s CD, “Cara Dillon” (and no, it’s not because we have the same first name).

http://www.caradillon.co.uk

Especially “Donald of Glencoe”

Cara L.

7

From out of my folky past, some tales in song that have marked me and my times.

  • Frozen Logger - Taught to me by my dad, one of few he sang, on a cold night camping.
  • Barbree(Barbra) Allen - My Aunt (Ruth Allen) and cousins (Katty and Susan Allen) sang in three part harmony in Nashville while cleaning up the dishes, after a grand dinner.
  • Polly Von - First song I used to a, uhm, a … try and court a lady.
  • Edmund Fitzgerald - A tragic song, brought to mind each time I watch a thunder storm on Lake Erie.
  • Talking Candy Bar Blues - Giving up on using tragic songs to attract the lassies, I found this one won me a smile and a kiss or two.
  • MTA - The original political satire song of which my friends and I re-worked the lyrics often to complain about the state we were in.
  • County Clair - Irish immigrant song that minded me that missing home was universal.
  • Traveling Lady - the desire for even temporary relief from lonely nights.
  • The Great Mandella - a tribute to another type of bravery.
  • Very Last Day - Justice betrayed brings destruction, a common theme for me in the late 60’s.
  • King of Names - the sorrow of oppression and prejudice.
  • The Blacksmith - a womans wrath o’er love betrayed and rejected.
  • It Came To Pass (The Christmas Dinner) - a tale of christmas generosity, the true meaning of the season.
  • Marvelous Toy - the wonder of childhood, sung to my son, Jonathan.
  • Puff the Magic Dragon - Sung at bedside. on my second date with their mom, enthralled the hearts of Elizebeth and Becca, and won the heart of my dearly beloved Peg.
  • By Your Side - On bended knee, at our wedding reception, my first song sung, to the last Mrs. Marsh of my life, Peg.
  • An Feochan - puts to mind the passing of flute player Frankie Kennedy, and puts to rememberance untimely losses of friends who have passed over.
  • And the ultimate long ballad or tale of my generation - Alices Restaurant.

A life without music is un-imaginable for me. Here’s hoping each of you can likewise live and …

Enjoy Your Music,

Lee Marsh

[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-09-26 17:28 ]

8

Amhran na Leabhar as sung by Emer Kenny, Ailein Duinn as sung by Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, Anachuin as done by Seamus Tansey, Dance of the Gypsy Queen by Eoin Duignan. They are equally fantastic.

9

Does anyone know if Anachie Gordon would be classified as a lament or ballad? And what exactly does classify a song as a lament or ballad? :slight_smile:

Hwyl,
Andrea ~*~

10

Great thread! Thanks sis!

Now if people happen to know the links for the notation of these tunes, it would be really nice if they posted them!

I know it’s all about me, but it sure would save me the effort!

:smiley:

Kim

11

Londenderry Air, MacPherson’s Lament, Si Beg Si Mor, Down By the Sally Gardens, SOuth WInd.

12

On 2002-09-26 17:42, aderyn_cyrdd wrote:
… what exactly does classify a song as a lament or ballad? > :slight_smile:
…

Generally:

  • Ballad - a song that tells a story.
  • Lament - a mournful piece, either meant to be played at a funeral, or to commemorate a death.
13

Thanks Lee–I appreciate the clarification!

And, I will :laughing: Enjoy (my) Music…
:smiley:

Andrea

14

One that can be powerful done right and is real whistle-friendly is Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times Come Again No More” It isn’t Irish and only dates to the 1850s, but after Lee’s list it’s positively ancient g.

There’s also Bard of Armagh (The Streets of Laredo) and “The Lowlands of Holland” or the Scots “Flowers of the Forest”.

15

On 2002-09-26 19:10, Kim in Tulsa wrote:
Now if people happen to know the links for the notation of these tunes, it would be really nice if they posted them!

:smiley:

Kim

Amhran na Leabhair can be found at http://www.fingertrip.net/whistle/index.html. Anachuin is in Geraldine Cotter’s beginner book (as is Amhran na Leabhair). I know Duignan’s works aren’t transcribed yet, and I have never had any luck finding Ailein Duinn.

[ This Message was edited by: blackhawk on 2002-09-27 20:57 ]

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Bruach Na Carraige Báine as performed by Solas, on a Bb whistle. That’s probably the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.

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Any good Scottish muckle song. Dick Gaughan is the current master of songs in this style.

The album ‘Tragic Songs of Life’ by the Louvin Brothers is perhaps the most chilling but eerily beautiful collection of songs ever assembled in one place. Sure it’s country but Nashville schmaltz it ain’t. It ain’t bluegrass either but if the phrase ‘high and lonesome’ doesn’t apply to this then I don’t know what it does apply to.

Can’t leave without seconding Chuck’s choice: ‘Hard Times Come Again No More’. I once heard a stunning, sort of southern-baptist-gospelly version of this but didn’t catch who it was by. Any suggestions?

18

Blackhawk–
I tried your link and it didn’t work.

19

This](http://tunedb.woodenflute.com/tunedb/tune_details_results.html?tune_id=5257&tune_name=Cairn%20On%20The%20Moor%22%3EThis) is what I’m working on right now.

It makes me feel good to play it…it’s pretty in my opinion. But I am partial to slow waltzes…

20

In Scarlet Town, where I was borned,
There was a fair maid a-dwelling;
Made every youth cry wellaway,
For the love of Barbrie Allen.