New Sheet Music: A Breton Carol

Whistle
1

In response to a request, I put together music notation and whistle tablature for Breton Carol, as heard on The Chieftains “Bells of Dublin” and their “Celtic Wedding: Music of Brittany”. It is posted on the Christmas Carols page of my website, Whistle and Squeak, for those who like to learn music from sheet or tablature. In all honesty, this is one that demands the ear to get it right.

As I couldn’t find any sheet music to cadge the notation from, I had to work it out by ear, and the structure that best resembled what I heard is a very slow four-beat, with one quarter note plus one sixteenth note equalling a beat. It ends up looking like there should be five beats per measure if you just count quarter notes, but this is definitely not Dave Brubeck.

Anyway, I hope some folks enjoy the fruits of the effort (that would be those for whom it is meant), and the folks with better music theory skills than mine (or actual sheet music) can line up and whack away at the flaws therein. :tomato:

Season’s Blessings,

Mark

2

Thanks Mark! Let me whack away a little :slight_smile:
I think it could do with some 4/4 normalization.
Here is my attempt in abc notation:

T:Breton Carol
M:4/4
K:Emin
B|B>e e>d e2 g2|f>e d>e B3 B|B>e e>d e2 g2|f>e d>e B3 B|
e>e d>B c>d B>c|B>A G>A B3 B|B>e e>d e2 g2|fg/a/ g>f e3||

Then of course play it by ear and change the dotted rhythm as you like.

Cheers,
Hans

3

You guys are overlooking the most elegant solution in 12/8. :slight_smile:

X:1
T:Breton Carol
S:Chieftains: Bells of Dublin - Breton Carol - Track 7
Z:MTGuru
M:12/8
K:Em
JB|{B^c}(B2e) (e2{efPe}d) e3 Jg3|J(f2{gf}e) (d2e) JB3- B2B|
{B^c}(B2e) (e2{efPe}d) e3 J(g2{ag}.e)|J(f2{gf}e) (d2e) JB3- B2||
B|(e3 {fPe}.d2)B (c2d) JB2c|J(B2{cB}A) J(G2A) {A}B3- B2B|
{B^c}(B2e) (e2{fPe}d) e2e {f}J(g3|{ag}(.f2)g/a/) J(g2{gag}f) Je6|]

X:1
T:Breton Carol (Simplified)
S:Chieftains: Bells of Dublin - Breton Carol - Track 7
Z:MTGuru
M:12/8
K:Em
B|(B2e) (e2d) e3 g3|(f2e) (d2e) B3- B2B|
(B2e) (e2d) e3 g3|(f2e) (d2e) B3- B2||
B|e3 d2B (c2d) B2c|(B2A) (G2A) B3- B2B|
(B2e) (e2d) e3 g3|(f2g/a/) (g2f) e6|]

Note: In the ornamented version, the mordent sign over a grace note indicates a descending cut within the grace. These render fine in the Concertina.net converter, or abcm2ps.

Happy Holidays!

4

I learned it by ear on a C whistle and on a D I’d play it starting on the F# hole, and requiring a C#. I have no idea what key that is. Or mode. I never tried it in this key but I like it.

5

Ahhhh, 12/8! That was beginning to drift into the back of my noggin as I was humming the tune in the shower after posting this morning.

It’s so nice not to have to rely just on my own gray matter!

MTGuru, may I adopt your simplified transcription for use on Whistle and Squeak?

Mark

6

Does anyone know the chords?

If not, I can probably figure it out listening to the Chieftains’ version on Rhapsody.

(While I’m at it, I may as well download the album.) :wink:

7

thanks for this. I’m currently learning “The Boar’s Head” as well. fun album .

8

Sure, Mark, enjoy!

9

I’ve changed the files so that the sheet music is in 12/8.

Thanks, all!

Mark

10

Look for it on the Chiffy Christmas 2008 site. :wink:

11

Mark, your avatar has changed. Have you been kissed by a princess? :laughing:

12

Any perceived resemblance between the humanoid avatar, and the implied handsome prince of folklore, is considered flattery! God bless ye!

13

Here’s some more Bretonish ABC stuff for you. It’s “Son ar chistr” otherwise known as “King Willie” and other Bretonic and Teutonic names. In this form it is the song of cider - a very worthy drinking songthat can be sung at anyones’ equivalent of Chistmas :wink: . It is my fave Breton tune :slight_smile:

X: 1
T: Son ar Chistr
M: 3/2
L: 1/8
R: Song
K: Edor
e2||:e3c1d4B4|B2e2e2d2c2e2|e3cd4B4|1c2A2B4z2e2:|2c2A2B4z2B2||
|d2e2f4f4|g2e2f4z2f2|e2e2d4B4|B2e2e2d2c2e2|e3cd4B4|1c2A2B4z2B2:|2c2A2B4z4|

I have rendered it in the proper 3/2 which is the kind of inverse of 12/8 - where 12/8 metres at 4 lots of 3, 3/2 metres at 3 lots of 4. On theothersite dot org it is listed as a barn dance and horrendously mangled. I have taken the liberty to transpose it from Eb to D as this is a whistle forum. On a whistle it sounds great .. on a bombarde it sounds better.