Too Beautiful An Irish Song For Even A Tin Whistle

Whistle
1

The following Irish song, sung by Máire Brennan of Clannad, is in my opinion too beautiful for any instrument except a woman’s voice. It is

Gaoth Barra Na dTonn
Tá gealach na gconnlach ag éirí sa spéir
'S grian bhuí an Fhómhair ag tomadh sa weir
Tá na beachógaí 'dranndián sa tsean duilliúr donn
Tá Gaoth Barra na g’Coillte, Gaoth Barra na d’Tonn

Tá na ba óga geimní ‘nuas mhallí chró lí?
Sna caoirigh ag meidhlí le druidim na hoich’
Tá geal gháir na sruthan fán screagach anonn
Tá Gaoth Barra na g’Coillte, Gaoth Barra na d’Tonn

Ina sruth uisce cheolmhar tá na bradáin a’sceith
'S thart fa na himill tá an fhuiseog a breith
Tig na héanlaith na scaoth ann, an druideog san lon
Mar tá dideán gan doicheall fá Gaoth Barra na d’Tonn

'S gímse Pádraig agus Naomh Chonaill caol
Nach n-iarraim aon Fhlairheas i ndeireadh mo shaoil
Ach m’anam bheith seoladh fá’n duilliúr donn
Tá ag fás fa do chladaí, a Gaoth Barra na d’Tonn

Composed by Domhnail Mac Diarmada, it described the scenic landscape of Gaoith Barra which forms the southern boundry of the Rosses. He says he would prefer his soul to drift along Gaoith Barra than to be in Heaven itself.

I have searched the Internet to get even a loose translation to English of this song, but have not found one. If someone could give me a translation, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance. :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

2

If you want, we’ll be happy to work on it for you over here:

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/

In fact, how 'bout I post the lyrics there right now, and we’ll see what folks come up with? This is a good time, as most of the translators are on at this time of day.

I’ll post it under the header “song lyrics” and post a link to the thread here in a minute.

Redwolf

3

OK…here’s a link to the posting:

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/ftopic13306.html

I’ll work on it too, but the more eyes on the translation, the better. You might want to check back throughout the day.

Redwolf

4

I’m working on the other end of this one, and attempting to get the answer straight from the source or thereabouts. If I come up with anything, I’ll let you know. :smiley:

5

We’ve got a partial translation going over at IGT. Some of the stuff is pretty idiomatic and isn’t translating easily, but we have a couple of people over there that should be able to tweak it into the right form.

Redwolf

6

In general, if the song/air is too beautiful to be played on the whistle (or any other regular instrument), it’s perfect for the uilleann pipes.

:smiley:

7

I THINK I may have it here, but wait for the other translators to weigh in. I got most of it literally, and then went for an idiomatic translation. Check in tonight and see what Oisin, Conor, Merryploughbhoy, Ailill and Murchada have to say.

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/ftopic13306.html

Redwolf

8

Many, many thanks so far. This to me is the most beautiful Irish song I have ever heard. It really got me hooked into the depth of feeling of Irish (and all Celtic) music. :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

9

OK, so where are the notes to this song? As it stands it is just a very beautiful poem.

I promise to not play it on my whistle (yup, all fingers and toes are crossed :stuck_out_tongue: )

10

Entry Word: frisk
Function: verb
Text: 1
Synonyms GAMBOL, caper, cavort, frolic, rollick, romp
2
Synonyms SEARCH 2, ||fan, shake down


Do you see it Redwolf?? Do you see the word that would make that line about the sheep just perfect??? :smiley:

And the sheep frisk at the approach of the night,

or

And the sheep frolic at the approach of the night,

I do not know the language, but I sure do know how to use an online Dictionary/Thesaurus!!! :laughing:

11

Yep…I like “frolic” better too.

I keep hoping one of the more experienced translators will take a look at it. They will eventually, but it would be nice to know sooner. There were several words I didn’t know and couldn’t find in either of mo foclóirí…I went heavily on context, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t.

Redwolf

12

The word gambolling seems to have a fatal attraction for sheep contexts, so I suggest you avoid it - it’s one of those quasi-nonce words like the “skirl” of the pipes that become pure cliché: the verbal equivalent of “Amazing Grace” on the GHBs!

But thanks for the link to that website, Redwolf, I’ll post it on Mudcat where people sometimes look for guidance with Irish words.

13

Go raibh míle maith agat! Redwood, the translation was fantastic! :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

14

Well, you’re welcome, but we don’t know if it’s correct yet. I’m still trying to get one of the more experienced translators to take a look. As we always tell people on IGT, “wait for confirmation.”

I think the basic meaning is there, but I’m not sure about some of the individual lines.

Redwolf

15

I don’t have anything from my end yet, but here’s a link to a lyrics site with some other songs translated:

http://www.geocities.com/celticlyricscorner/

Hopefully this helps.

-Jim

16

Well, with a few tweaks, and for those who don’t want to come over to IGT, here’s what we’ve come up with:

Gaoth Barra of the Waves

The harvest moon is rising into the sky,
And Autumn’s yellow sun is setting over the weir,
The young bees hum amid the old brown leaves,
In Gaoth Barra of the Woods, Gaoth Barra of the Waves.

The young cattle come lowing down to the fold,
And the sheep frolic at the approach of the night,
The wandering stream laughs among the rocks of the far shore,
In Gaoth Barra of the Woods, Gaoth Barra of the Waves.

In the musical waters of the river spawns the salmon,
And nearby the lark makes her nest,
Come the birds of the flock, the starling and the blackbird,
To your refuge unstinting, Gaoth Barra of the Waves.

I pray to St. Patrick and St. Conal,
I ask but one boon at the end of my life,
That my soul should reside among the brown leaves
That grow thick on your shores, Gaoth Barra of the Waves.

This translation is taking a bit of poetic license…necessary to make the very idiomatic Irish work in English…but as nearly as I can tell, this is the gist.

I’d sure love to HEAR it sometime! I like good sean nos singing…is Maire a traditional singer, or is she all electo-ethereal like her little sister? I’ve been tempted to buy some Clannad, but I find Enya so off-putting and I’ve been worried that the rest of the family might be of the same stripe (?).

Redwolf

17

Maire can be a very traditional singer. Just as Clannad can be very tranditional. In this song, she seems all traditional to the point that you may have to stop and be quiet just to listen to the feeling. No voice enchancement and no instrument accompanyment.


Thanks much Redwolf

18

Is there a CD you can recommend?

Redwolf

19

I have a few Clannad albums myself. I would say to go to one of the “bookstore” websites and listen to some sound samples.

There are indeed some Enya-like pieces on some of these albums in the sense that synths and voices are faded into and out of the mix, and there’s evidently quite a bit of track-stacking, but even these compositions are usually more complex and interesting than Enya’s. Most of their material, however, is much more guitar-based and shows some Renaissance, jazz, and folk-rock influences. In other words, they can do the “Enya thing”, but they don’t have to.

20

Doesn’t quite sound like my thing, I guess. I’m more the Altan type.

Redwolf