I have a feeling that I am on a fool’s errand with this one … Not because no-one will be able to help me around these parts. Far from it. I think I’ll get lots of help. But I can’t help thinking I won’t be up to the task …
I would really like to be able to play the air to the song Siúil a ruin. I don’t care what I play it on - fiddle, whistle, low whistle, flute, but first I have to get the air, and the words, very thoroughly in my head.
So I’ve been looking for a really good version. I’ve looked on YouTube, and I’ve endured a large amount of complete dross (including an absolutely abysmal version by Judy Collins, who ought to have known better). There’s a lovely version by Clannad, from 1978, but it’s very much of its time, and fairly individual and esoteric. I don’t think it’s the best for me to learn from. I’ve found at least one other version which I would characterise as poor but better to learn from.
Now what I need is a version that is good, and, at the same time, good to learn from.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Preferably with links, although I’d buy something if I could be persuaded that the version was worth it.
In a documentary about Eithne Ní Uallacháin a few years ago, she sang a lovely informal version with her children. I liked that one a lot. It was on youtube for a while but I think it was taken down. I may be able to lift it from the version I downloaded at the time.
The basic tune’s there. It’s a bit New Agey for me. Also, it’s sung differently from what seems to be the usual version of the song, in a way that seems partly taken from the old Clannad version.
One of the things that appeals to me about the song is the - as it seems to me - very odd structure, made up of three lines of verse followed by a chorus line; then three line of chorus, followed by the chorus line. I don’t recall hearing another song with anything like that structure. Órla has deviated from that structure in her version. It’s fair enough, but perhaps not … I don’t know what the word is … standard(?) enough for what I want.
I now have a sort of ‘working model’ of a version that maybe I can do something with. One of the remaining issues is the perennial problem of time. It’s really very short. I might normally play a slow air just twice, but that can take a good five minutes or, often, more. If I play this just twice, it’s over before it’s hardly begun; but three times, just instrumentally, seems a bit much … unless I can get a bit more inventive with it, without spoiling the simple beauty of the tune …
I may have to learn to sing the thing. I haven’t the greatest voice, but it works sometimes, on some songs, so you never know …
One of the reasons I love Chiff and Fipple is I find out new things or am reminded old things I have forgotten. I used to listen to the Skylark version on the CD The Celts Rise Again. It is on my shelf and hasn’t been dusted off for some time. Lovely.
My main difficulty at the moment is getting all of the lyrics in my head. If I had those, I think I’d have it. Nothing for it then; I’ll have to learn the song.
The choral group Anúna has recorded this, available on their new Collections album. See http://www.anuna.ie/music for a sample. Definitely worth a listen.
But I can’t help thinking I won’t be up to the task …
