Women of Ireland

Whistle
1

I would like to learn this tune. Its from the movie, Barry Lyndon and was recorded by The Chieftains. It’s Gaelic name is Mna Na h’Eireann. I have been listening to it, but playing and learning by ear is very slow for me. Does anybody know where this might be published so I may purchase a copy. Thanks

2

Hi, here´s one version:

X:24
T:Women of Ireland
C:Sean ÓRiada
S:as played by James Galway
O:
Z:Falkbeer
N:
Q:“Very slow”
R:Slow air
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:G
AA2B | “am” cg2-g3- | g{g}a2~g | “D” fA2-A3- |
A3-AAB | “C” c3-c2B/c/ |[1 “D” A6- | ~A6- | A3 :expressionless:
[2 “D” d3-dcA | “G” B/d/G2-G3- | G3-G2 G| “em” g6- | g3- gab |
“am” a2g-g ~ed | “C” e6- | e3 “D” dcB | “em” Ag2-g3- | g3 “am” {g}a2~g|
“D” fd2-d3 | “am” eA2- “D” A3- | A3-A~GF | “G” G6- | G2 ||

3

I think that’s the prettiest of all the tunes. I’m afraid I’ll never be able to play a tune like that. Maybe I could play along with someone else, but by myself I’m afraid I lack that kind of skill.

4

sure you can! there’s no great mystery to it, and playing along with someone sounds just like the way to learn it.

5

There’s a very pretty and simple whistle version on Na Connerys (track 3):
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Sessions-Na-Connerys/dp/B000005QFX

This is also quite lovely:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuWh9dzvWw8

6

I just love this tune.
It’s just an odd tune: rather short phrases, each phrase seemingly in A minor, but suddenly resolving to G in a quirky way.
I play for quite a few weddings, and I like to play this for the “seating of the mothers”.

7

Oh, you naughty boy.

8

I had downloaded the Chieftains playing this and just loved the melody with just the solo whistle. No wonder I could not get it started as by watching and hearing it, I knew it ended on G, making it in the key of G. But, as you say, it starts somewhat in am. Thats were it gets its haunting sound from. And yes SBFluter, you can learn this! Thanks C&F.

9

Damn! When I read the title of that thread, I was hoping for something else…

10

Somebody, please remind me, How do I get the dots from Falkbeer’s post.
Thanks

11

Just copy and paste the ABC (including the X: line) into the Concertina.net converter for a downloadable PDF:
http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

12

Thanks Bloomfield

13

I was wondering what that was. Never seen it before.

KAC

14

:slight_smile: I saw that MTGuru responded and deleted my post.

15

The secret is out … Bloomfield and I are really the same person. Our schizophrenic arguments are just a ploy to provide some professional amusement for Dale. :laughing:

16

Oh shut up you silly twit. Or I’ll have something you really don’ t like for supper tonight. :slight_smile:

17

:astonished:


:laughing:

18

I´d just like to take the opportunity to point out that my transcription of Women of Ireland is taken from a recording with James Galway. I personally think that Paddy Moloney and the Chiftain´s rendition is much more interesting and beautiful (and more traditional). Galway´s rendition and the whole arrangement is quite frankly aimed at the easy listening market. But Moloney´s beautiful, traditional and very free playing was harder to transcribe. My suggestion to anyone who wishes to learn Women of Ireland is to listen to The Chieftain´s rendition and perhaps using my transcription as merely a starting point on the road to you own rendition of this beautiful air.