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Tune
Details |
| 1. Carolans
Tune. harp, cello,
whistle, guitar. |
| One of the 200 untitled compositions
attributed to Turlough O'Carolan, born 1670, in County
Meath, Ireland. Turlough O'Carolan is considered one of the greatest
and most versatile of traditional Irish harpers of his time.
At the age of eighteen he contracted smallpox causing him to
become totally blind. Mrs McDermott, his father's employer, paid
for him to receive tuition on the harp which was then a common
occupation for blind people. Three years later this young man
of 21 set off on horseback led by a guide on foot, on a career
as an itinerant harper. He travelled around Ireland for nearly
50 years composing many tunes for his hosts and was celebrated
and welcomed throughout the country. |
| 2. Y'
Deryn Pur (Address to the Dove). harp,
fiddle, cello, mandolin, guitar. |
| A favourite tune in
Gwent and Morganwg, South Wales. I chose to include and arrange
this tune for its sheer beauty, collected by Maria Jane Williams
and published by her in 1844, in one of the first books of Welsh
songs 'Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morganwg'. The
lyrics of this tune tell us of a gentleman requesting a dove
to take a message of love to a maiden he so admired. |
| 3.
Miss Hamilton. harp solo. |
| Collected by Edward Bunting from harper Patrick Linden
in 1802, this tune is believed to be the only surviving composition
of Cornelius Lyons, harper to the Earl of Antrim 1702. No history
of this tune has survived, but notice in the second part the
carillon of bells, could it have been that Miss Hamilton was
about to marry and the composer was trying to imitate the sound
of wedding bells? Cornelius Lyons was reputed to have a very
distinctive style of playing the harp. In my own interpretation
of this tune I have attempted to re-create this style. |
| 4.
Huntingtone Castle.
harp, mandolin. |
| John Bowie,
the composer of this beautiful air, was a fiddler from Perth
born 1759. It is interesting to note that he published a number
of airs for the harp. |
| 5. Brian
Boru's March. harp, fiddle, cello, mandolin, whistle,
guitar. |
| Brian
Boru was an Irish King of the 10th and 11th century who died
at the battle of Clonfert in 1014. Although this popular tune
bears his name there is no doubt it was written at a much later
time. I have portrayed this march with the army coming from the
distance, its presence, then fading away. |
| 6. Convet
Griffith ap Cynan. harp,
whistle. |
| The
medieval Prince of Gwynedd, Wales, Griffith ap Cynan, c1055 to
1137; being educated and instructed in all the refined learning
of that period, greatly favoured the arts and music. This tune,
though not dating from that period, was published in 'The
Musical and Poetical Relicks of the Welsh Bards' by Edward
Jones in 1784. When I play this air I can almost feel the majestic
manner of those past times. |
| 7. Leezie
Lyndsey / Tha Mi Sgith (I am Weary). harp,
mandolin, guitar. |
| The first tune was first published by
Jamieson in his 'Popular Ballads in Scotland 1806'. Apparently
Donald Macdonald from Kingussie went to Edinburgh to seek a wife,
however, his mother insisted that he go dressed as a man of lower
status to attract a woman who loved him truly for his own sake
and not for his wealth. The story recounts his desire for the
Lowland girl Leezie Lindsay, asking"Will ye gang to the
Hielan's Leezie Lindsay?". After some debate she answers
"I will gang to the Heilan's with you sir, your bride and
your darling to be".The second tune "Tha Mi Sgith"
(I am weary) is an old Gaelic air, believed to have been published
by Marjory Kennedy-Frazer in 'Songs of the Hebrides'.
English words were put to this tune by James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, which he
titled "The Fairies Love Song", the story of which
tells of a maiden, who had a fairy lover, and who would help
her in pulling the bracken. When her brothers found out about
this they banished her to another part of the country and was
often heard lamenting, "I am weary and alone, pulling bracken
on the moor". |
| 8. Caerphilly
Castle. harp, small
harp, fiddle, cello, whistle, flute. |
| The air "Caerphilly Castle" is reminiscent
of the remains of a once magnificent castle. Probably this melody
was originally related to a song that described one of the misfortunes
that befell this castle, but it lends itself to any theme of
a pensive nature. This tune is also known by the title 'One Morning
Fair' |
| 9.
Blind Mary. harp, mandolin, cello. |
| The origin of
this beautiful slow air is uncertain, but is generally attributed
to Turlough O'Carolan and composed in honour
of the harper Maire Dhall (Blind Mary). This arrangement emphasises
the love, admiration, or even sadness felt by the composer. |
| 10.
Mrs Judge. harp solo. |
| One of the many tunes
by Turlough O'Carolan composed in honour of
his patrons. Played as a solo Harp piece, this stately tune was
composed in honour of the wife of Thomas Judge of Westmeath. |
| 11.
Braig Loch Iall (The Banks
of Loch Eil). harp,
whistle. |
| I
cannot trace any background history to the origins of this tune
other than the lyrics which tell us of a gentleman who had to
part from his loved one saying, "Oh I will go over, to the
cattle grazings, where I used to know a maiden, on the Braes
of Lochiel". |
| 12. Eleanor
Plunket. harp, fiddle,
cello, whistle, mandolin. |
| Composed by Turlough O'Carolan in praise of Eleanor Plunket
of County Meath, Ireland. This fine air composed for the Harp
is complimented by a soulful harmony emphasising the beauty of
the melody. |
| 13. Merch
Megan (Megan's Daughter). small
harp, guitar. |
| This cheerful traditional harp melody
was first published in 1781 by the blind Welsh Harper John Parry
in 'British Harmony'. Born in 1710, he was of the most
famous 18th century Harpers known throughout England and Wales,
his playing being admired by Handel. This tune was later published
in 1802 by Edward Jones, Harpist Laureate to George IV, in his
book 'The Bardic Museum' under the title 'Wyres Megan'.
The 'Silver Harp' was won by Henry Humphreys for his playing
of 'Merch Megan' at the Welshpool Eisteddford in 1824. |
| 14. Farewell
to Whisky. harp, guitar. |
| Composed by
Niel
Gow, a famous Scottish Fiddler born 1727 in the village of
Inver, Perthshire. He was well known for his many fine compositions. |
| 15.
The Emerald Isle.
harp solo. |
| Taken from 'O'Neil's
Music of Ireland' this traditional slow air is played
as a solo harp piece, portraying, for me, the many days I have
spent amongst the magnificent beauty of Ireland. |
| 16.
Captain Sudley. harp, fiddle, cello, mandolin, guitar. |
| Also known by
the alternative title 'Carolan's Dowry'. Composed by Turlough O'Carolan, this joyful tune celebrates
the marriage of his daughter Soibhan to George Sudley, an officer
in the army. |
| 17. Bugeilio'r
Gwenith Gwyn (Watching the Wheat). harp
duet. |
| The
origins of this beautiful but sad Welsh air are vague. The poet
Will Hopkin of Glamorganshire, in the early 18th century, wrote
words to the tune telling of the love he had for Ann Thomas,
'The Maid of Cefn Ydfa' who was destined by family arrangement
to marry another. Published in 1844, by Maria Jane Williams,
in one of the first books of Welsh songs 'Ancient National
Airs of Gwent and Morganwg'. In my arrangement of this tune
I have emphasised the sadness felt by using expressive harmony
and the bass strings of the Harp. |
| 18. Sheebeg
and Sheemore. harp,
guitar. |
| It
is believed that this was the first tune that the celebrated
bard, Turlough O'Carolan, wrote. Apparently, after
leaving home in County Roscommon, he called on Squire Reynolds
of Letterfian in County Leitrim. Reynolds told the bard of the
battle between the 'Kings of the Gentry', meaning the fairies
of the two local hills, Sheebeg and Sheemor. He asked O'Carolan
of he could compose a tune on this subject whilst he was away.
When the Squire returned he was so pleased with the result he
gave O'Carolan a horse for his guide. |
| 19. Morfa
Frenhines (The Queens Marsh). harp,
cello, whistle. |
| First published by Edward Jones in 1784
in his book 'The Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh
Bards', under the title 'Red Heathered Piper'. This tune
later appeared in a printed collection by Nicholas Bennett 'The
Songs of my Land' 1896 under the title 'The Queens Marsh'. |
| 20.
The Fairhaired
Child. harp, mandolin. |
| This air collected
by Edward Bunting in 1792, probably at the Belfast
Harp festival, was published in his 'General Collection of
Ancient Irish Music' 1796. |
| 21. Downfall
of Paris. harp, small
harp. |
| This
Irish Long dance with a distinctive French flavour is published
in 'O'Neills Music of Ireland'. |
| 22. Llwyn
Onn (The Ash Grove). harp,
small harp, guitar. |
| This well known traditional Harp melody
was first published by Edward Jones in 'The Bardic Museum
1802'. |
| 23. Rhos-y-Llan
Castle. harp solo. |
| I had always
believed this to be a Scottish tune, first written in the 'Skeen
manuscript 1615-1620', under the title 'Roslin
Castle'. While I was carrying out further research on the
history of the tunes I came across music with an alternative
title ' Rhos-y-Llan Castle'. My reasoning for this could be,
that as the travelling minstrels roamed the country from region
to region they would have 'borrowed' and adapted tunes, sometimes
even changing the title to meet their own requirements. |
| 24.
Farewell to Fiunary.
harp, fiddle, cello, whistle,
mandolin, guitar. |
| This tunes tells of the sadness of leaving
the place one loves, in this case Fiunary by the Sound of Mull on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland |
| 25.
Dream Angus. small harp, cello. |
This soothing lullaby
from the Highlands of Scotland has a distinctive flavour both
in musical style and content. Nowhere are lullabies to be found
in such number and variety than amongst the Scottish Gaels. Having
known this tune for many years, I feel it is well suited to close
this musical selection.
| Disclaimer:
Although the history of the text
has been thoroughly searched, I claim no responsibility to any
inaccuracies within the contents enclosed therein. |
|
Artists Playing
on this Album |
| Hilary Rushmer -
Harp, Small Harp, Mandolin, Guitar, Whistle |
Notes and Research
- Hilary Rushmer, Roger Benton |
| Roger Benton - Fiddle |
Celtic Artwork -
Wendy Smith |
| Paul Hickman - Cello |
Harp - Pilgrim Harps |
| Joanne Blinkhorn
-Whistle, Bodhran. |
Small Harp - Oakwood
Instruments |
| Kelly Sheridan -
Flute |
Front Cover - From
an original watercolour by Valerie Wright S.B.A. S.W.A. |
Acknowledgements:
My special thanks to Roger Benton and Wendy Smith for their help
and support in the preparation of this CD. To Andy Blythe Sound
Engineer and to the musicians who joined me on the original recordings
that were the basis for this compilation. I would like to thank
all the people and institutions which have given me assistance
in the research and preparation of the historical notes, in particular
I acknowledge The National Library of Edinburgh. University Colleges
of Wales. Tocher 35, The School of Scottish Studies. Kingussie
Folk Museum. G Roberts, S Reece, Y Jones, members of Ar Log. |
|
Produced
and Published by Hilary Rushmer. (MCPS) (PPL) (P@MRA) (PPI) (PRS) |
|
All right
reserved © 1993 Hilary Rushmer.(P)1993
Hilary Rushmer. |
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