History of Airs An Raibh tú ar an gcarraig An Buachaillín Donn Grá Mo Chroí Amhrán na Leabhar Hector the Hero 11

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "History of Airs An Raibh tú ar an gcarraig An Buachaillín Donn Grá Mo Chroí Amhrán na Leabhar Hector the Hero 11"

Hilda Dixon
5 years ago
Views:

2 Index History of Airs 01. An Raibh tú ar an gcarraig Easter Snow 7 0. An Buachaillín Donn Grá Mo Chroí Amhrán na Leabhar Hector the Hero Mall of Lismore The Boy from Aughdarra An Ghorta The Banks of Sullane The Dreams of Old Pa Fogerty 16 Disclaimer: The notation of airs from Air Time are intended to be used for educational purposes only and are therefore a guide to aid students initial learning of the airs. 2

3 History of Airs recorded on Air Time 01. An Raibh tú ar an gcarraig: Traditional Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner, Gary O Bhroinn and Seamie O Dowd An Raibh Tú ag an gcarraig is a traditional air, dating back to penal times in Ireland when Catholicism was outlawed. The Rock (an gcarraig) is a Mass Rock where Irish gathered to celebrate Mass under threat of prison or death at the hands of the enemy. In this love song, in which lovers secretly arrange to meet, the singer asks the question Were you at the rock? 02. Easter Snow: with Bobby Gardiner, Traditional Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner and Seamie O Dowd Also known as Sneachta na Casca, Easter Snow is a reference to the blackthorn blossom which appears in the spring time. Often associated with the South Roscommon blind piper, Jimmy Fallon, it has been played by uilleann piper Séamus Ennis ( ), amongst many others. On this track, Fíodhna is joined by her father, Bobby Gardiner and accompanied by Seamie O Dowd. This arrangement of Easter Snow was used by Destiny Films and Publishing as a sound track for the 201 Irish film The Lord s Burning Rain : 0. An Buachaillín Donn, with Cathy Jordan: Traditional Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner, Gary O Bhroinn and Seamie O Dowd An Buachaillin Donn or the Little Brown-Haired Boy is a melodic love song that Fíodhna first heard sung by Tipperary traditional singer, Nora Butler. She is accompanied here by singer, Cathy Jordan for their own arrangement of the air. 04. Grá Mo Chroí: ( Fíodhna Gardiner) Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner and Seamie O Dowd Grá mo chroí was written for Fíodhna s husband, Pádraig, from County Mayo. As an exceptionally loving, kind and supportive husband, he has been a wonderful source of encouragement in the making of this CD. 05. Amhrán na Leabhar: Traditional Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner, Gary O Bhroinn and Seamie O Dowd The Song of the Books ; also known as Cuan Bhéal Inse and Valentia Harbor was composed by Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin ( ), on the occasion of losing his priceless library of leather-bound books in a shipwreck off Kerry.

4 06. Hector the Hero: ( James Scott Skinner) Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner and Seamie O Dowd A Scottish air, composed by the Strathspey King, James Scott Skinner ( ), who revitalized traditional Scottish music in the late 19th century. He wrote this air in honor of Major-General Sir Hector MacDonald ( ), one of the Victorian British military figures. Fíodhna first heard this air played by fiddle player, Ged Palmer and co-member of Inis Oirr, Abu Dhabi s traditional Irish band. 07. The Mall of Lismore: with Cathy Jordan ( Andy Irvine) Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner and Seamie O Dowd Fíodhna learnt this air from Tipperary singer, Nora Butler s album My Home Lies in Tipperary and received its history from Co. Waterford singer, Ann Mulqueen. Set in the late 1800 s along the Mall or water-fronted Lismore road, this song depicts the tragedy of a young girl who falls in love with a British soldier, stationed in the garrison Co. Waterford town. Having being accused of being a traitor to her people as well as bearing his child, she was shunned and banished from her hometown to the foreign valley. Fíodhna is joined by singer, Cathy Jordan for their own rendition of the air. 08. The Boy from Aughdarra: ( Fíodhna Gardiner) Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner, Seamie O Dowd and Gary O Bhroinn Fíodhna composed this air for her father, Bobby Gardiner ( originally from Aughdarra, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, who began his musical career with the Kilfenora and Malachy Sweeney Ceili bands, before moving to America in His first LP Memories of Clare was released in 1962 and having returned to Ireland in the 1970s, he continued to release other recordings. Bobby s rhythm, creativity and use of the singlebutton triplet became his hallmark. From playing the melodeon on the back of a camel at the Great Wall of China to lilting the Boys of Ballysodare for the Sultan of Oman, Bobby continues to dedicate his life to Irish traditional music as a performer and teacher. 09.An Ghorta: ( Ann Gardiner) Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner, Gary O Bhroinn and Seamie O Dowd Amhrán as Gaeilge, a chum máthair Fhíodhna. Chum sí an caoineadh seo chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar thragóid an Ghorta Mhóir, a tharla in Éirinn i lár na naoú haois deag. Is amhlaidh gur theip ar na prataí agus fuair na sluaite bás de n ocras nó d éalaigh siad thar lear ins na coffin ships. 4

5 10. The Banks of Sullane: with Cathy Jordan, ( Sean O Riada) Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner and Seamie O Dowd Composed in 1956 by Seán O Riada, as a pastoral elegy for orchestra, this melodic air was inspired by a river in Macroom, Co. Cork and is a song of unrequited love. Fíodhna is joined by singer, Cathy Jordan for their own rendition of this air. 11. The Dreams of Old Pa Fogerty: ( Ailean Nicholson) Arranged by Fíodhna Gardiner, Gary O Bhroinn and Seamie O Dowd Fíodhna first learnt this Scottish air from Rody Campbell, father of Scottish fiddle player, Marianne Campbell and co-member of Abu Dhabi s traditional Irish Band, Inis Oirr. It was composed by the late Ailean Nicholson and recorded by Marianne s brother, piper and low whistle player, Rory Campbell 5

6 An Raibh tú ar an gcarraig 6

7 Easter Snow 7

8 An Buachaillín Donn 8

9 Grá mo Chroí 9

10 Amhrán na Leabhair 10

11 Hector the Hero 11

12 Slow THE MALL OF LISMORE port

13 The Boy from Aughdarra 1

14 An Ghorta 14

15 Banks of Sullane 15

16 The Dreams of Old Pa Fogerty 16

Traditional Irish Music

Traditional Irish Music Topics Covered: 1. Traditional Irish Music Instruments 2 Traditional Irish tunes 3. Music notation & Theory Related to Traditional Irish Music Trad Irish Instruments Fiddle Irish