I have a recording (Joe and the Gabe) in which the great Joe Heaney sings a few english songs, but does anyone know about other recordings–vintage or otherwise–in which english songs are sung sean nos style?
Seamus Ennis’s Bonny Bunch of Roses has sean-nos in English and Irish. Joe Heaney’s various records always have a few Anglis - usually the Rocks of Bawn or Skibereen. Willie Clancy’s Minstrel from Clare.
Many sean-nos records have the odd track in English, you could check the titles and know easy enough. I imagine it depends on what you define as sean-nos, too.
If you just want to hear some folk song in English there’s the Topic Voice of the People records, which have singers from all over the Isles. I dubbed off a very interesting record recently, on Rounder, a guy named Hamper MacBee, a “mountain man” from the Appalachians in America. Very unusual to hear “country music” without anything behind it.
here’s some more on the great Joe Heaney http://mustrad.org.uk/articles/heaney1.htm
you’ll also find all this, including lyrics, on his cd “the road from connemara”.
and the macaronic songs to name a few :http://academic.evergreen.edu/w/williams/macaronic.htm
I’ve heard several sean-nos singers who will sing a verse in Irish, then sing a translation into English. Two that come to mind are the American singer Julie Henigan, and Paddy Tunney’s son John Tunney. I believe that Paddy Tunney sr. did several translations into english that are singable to the original melody and just fantastic. I’ve little Irish, so I cannot comment on their literalness personally, but I am assured by reliable people that they capture it extremely well. Translations of poetry are always difficult, of course.
On the side, Julie has a record (http://www.juliehenigan.com/) which I’ve never actually heard, but I’ve enjoyed every time I’ve heard her in person so I’m sure it’s worthwhile.
I did a quick search for paddy tunney and came across this page which may be of interest: http://members.aol.com/jmoul81075/engsing.htm . It seems perhaps a little dated, but John Moulden is still active and I am sure you can get in touch with him if you are interested.
check out www.c.i.c.ie all ya ever wanted in sean nos
slan
