Beidh aonach amárach

“Beidh aonach amárach” or “An Gréasaí Brógè” is an irish nursery rhyme

Clare is a county in the province of Munster on the west coast of Ireland, very much anchored to the traditions, in which Gaelic is spoken by more than 50% of the population.
In the county there is still a big horse fair a few kilometers from Ennis at Spancilhill (also mentioned in another traditional song “Spancil hill “), but we can not know if the fair to which it refers this nursery rhyme is just that.

This nursery rhymes is a composition in very simple and repetitive verses with a well-marked rhythm, structured as a call and response between mother and daughter: the daughter begs the mother to let her go to the fair, the mother replies that she could go when she will turn 13, and now she has nine, and it is still early to make choices in life. The daughter objects that many girls have married young and that she is in love with the shoemaker.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh by Anam an Amhráin TG4

Altan live

English translation
Chorus
Oh mammy, won’t you let me go to the fair
Oh dearest love, don’t plead with me
I
There’s a fair tomorrow in County Clare
Why should I care, I won’t be there
II
I’ve a little daughter and she’s very young
And she’s in love with a cobbling man
III
You’re not ten or eleven years old
When you reach thirteen you’ll be more mature
IV
I’d rather have my cobbling man
Than an army officer with his gold bands
V
There is many a maid who married young
And lived in peace with her cobbling man

Irish Gaelic
Cúrfa.
Is a mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé(x3)/ Is a mhuirnín óg ná healaí é
I
Beidh aonach amárach in gContae an Chláir(x3)/ Cén mhaith domh é ní bheidh mé ann
II
Tá ‘níon bheag agam is tá sí óg(x3)
Is tá sí i ngrá leis an ghreasaí bróg
III
Níl tú ach deich nó aon deag fós(x3)
Nuair a bheas tú trí deag beidh tú mór
IV
B’fhearr liom féin mo ghreasaí bróg(x3)
N fir na n’arm faoina lascú óir
V
‘S iomaí bean a phós go h-óg(x3)
Is a mhair go socair lena greasaí bróg

Na Casaidigh

I
[Iníon]: Beidh aonach amáireach
Cé maith dom é?
Ní bheidh mé ann!
Cúrfa.
[Iníon]:’S a mháithirín,
a’ ligfidh tú don aonaigh mé?
[Máthair]: A mhúirnín ó,
ná h-éilig é!
II
[Máthair]: Níl tú a deich
ná a h-aondéag fós,
Nuair a bheidh tú
trídéag beidh tú mór!

III
[Iníon]: B’fhearr liom
féin mo ghréasaí bróg,
Ná oifigeach airm
le lásaí óir!

SOURCE
http://www.irishpage.com/songs/aonach.htm
http://www.irlandaonline.com/cosa-vedere/sud/contea-di-clare/
http://clareireland.net/it/index.html
http://www.discoverireland.com/it/ireland-places-to-go/areas-and-cities/ireland-west/

Lass of Glanshee

Leggi in italiano

“The Lass of Glanshee” or “The maid of Glashee” or “The Rose of Glanshee” is a Scottish ballad penned by Andrew Sharpe (according to G Malcolm Laws -in American Balladry From Bristish Broadsides, 1957) in the late 1700s ‘Nineteenth century, on the tune “The Road and the Miles to Dundee”
Curious character, Andrew Sharpe, cobbler from Perth (Scotland), but also flute player, painter, composer and singer of love songs, yet this song is best known in its version from Celtic Canada, as it was collected by Helen Creighton during her excursions in New Brunswick from 1954 to 1960 and transcribed in “Folksongs from Southern New Brunswick” (1971). The witness Angelo Dornan, lived in Elgin, NB (Eastern Canada) at the time of registration. Most of his repertoire comes from Northern Ireland, the place of origin of his parents.

The ballad is a “pastoral” songs, a very popular song in England, Ireland and Scotland in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: this literary genre is characterized by the love contrast between a shepherdess and a suitor (a shepherd boy, or as in this case , a gentleman of passage) often with an erotic or spicy allusive background. The textual versions are quite similar and describe the same story: while a rustic but very pretty shepherdess is herding her flock, a young man spy and courting her; the song is then developed on the model of a pastoral contrast, with him who trying to seduce her and she escapes, knowing full well that she would never become his bride, because of their social difference. In reality the young maidens who wandered through the countryside and the woods were easy prey (more or less consensual) of the “hunters” men and often these ballads ended with the announcement of unfortunate pregnancies.(see more)

HAPPY END

“The Lass of Glanshee” has a happy ending as in beautiful fairy tales they get married and live happily for ever!

Altan from Horse With A Heart 1989: with their balanced repertoire based on the traditional music of Donegal and the Scottish influences the Altan spread throughout the world ballads, nursery rhymes and songs in Gaelic. Their version of The Lass of Glanshee, performed on a song originally from Scotland, has become a standard for Irish music groups.
Anuna (I, II,IV,V, VI)

Cara Dillon live

Greenoch interesting version of the Italian duo Cecilia Gonnelli and Roger Taradel

THE LASS OF GLENSHEE
I
One morning in springtime
as day was a-dawning
Bright Phoebus had risen
from over the lea
I spied a fair maiden
as homeward she wandered
From herding her flocks
on the hills of Glenshee
II
I stood in amazement,
says I, “Pretty fair maid
If you will come down
to St. John’s Town (1) with me
There’s ne’er been a lady
set foot in my castle (2)
There’s ne’er been a lady
dressed grander than thee
III
A coach and six horses
to go at your bidding
And all men that speak
shall say “ma’am unto thee
Fine servants to serve you
and go at your bidding”
I’ll make you my bride,
my sweet lass of Glenshee”

IV
“Oh what do I care for
your castles and coaches?
And what do I care
for your gay grandeury (3)?
I’d rather be home at my cot,
at my spinning
Or herding my flocks
on the hills of Glenshee”
V
“Away with such nonsense
and get up beside me
E’er summer comes on
my sweet bride you will be
And then in my arms
I will gently caress thee”
‘Twas then she consented,
I took her with me
VI
Seven years have rolled on
since we were united
There’s many’s a change,
but there’s no change on me
And my love, she’s as fair
as that morn on the mountain
When I plucked me a wild rose (4)
on the hills of Glenshee

NOTES
1) the city of Perth has an ancient church ((St John’s Kirk) and formerly took the name of Saint John’s Toun or St Johnstone.
2) Perthshire is dotted with castles scattered across the beautiful countryside but also close to Perth: Balhousie Castle, Huntingtower Castle, Scone Palace, Elcho Castle, Fingask Castle, Strathallan Castle, Blair Castle (more)
3) the verse follows the popular Raggle Taggle Gypsie
4) they are not limited to holding hands, and the rose is not just a flower

SCOTTISH/CANADIAN VERSION: THE HILLS OF GLENSHEE

The Glenshee Hills are located in the county of Pert, the ‘Fairy hill’ in the center of Scotland, a popular winter ski resort and summer hiking destination.

With the title “The Hills of Glenshee” is the variant spread to Newfoundland.
Harry Hibbs a more country version, from best-known icon for traditional Newfoundland music.

THE HILLS OF GLENSHEE
I
One fine summer’s mornin’
as I went out walkin’,
Just as the grey dawn
flew over the sea,
I happened to spy
a fair haired young damsel,
Attending her flock
by the hills of Glenshee.
II
I said,” pretty fair one,
will you be my dear one,
For I’ll take you over,
my bride for to be;
And this very night
in my arms I will hold you,
While you tend your flock
on the hills of Glenshee.”
III
“Oh no, my dear sir,
you’ll not take me over,
None of your footmen
to wait upon me;
I would rather stay home
in my own homespun clothing,
And attend to my flock
on the hills of Glenshee.”

IV
For twenty long years
we’ve both been together,
Seasons may change
but there’s no change in me;
And if God lets me live
and I have my right senses,
I’ll never prove false
to the girl on Glenshee.
V
She’s Mary, my Mary,
my own lovin’ darlin’,
She’s as pure as the perfume
blows over the sea;
And her cheeks are as pale
as the white rose of summer,
That spreads out its leaves
on the hills of Glenshee.
VI
She’s Mary, my Mary,
my own lovin’ darlin’,
I do love her so
and I know she loves me;
And I’ll never prove false
to my girl where I met her,
No I’ll never prove false
to the girl on Glenshee.
No I’ll never prove false
to the girl on Glenshee.

La fanciulla della Valle delle Fate

Read the post in English

“The Lass of Glanshee” o “The maid of Glashee” o ancora “The Rose of Glanshee” è una ballata scozzese composta da Andrew Sharpe (secondo G Malcolm Laws -in American Balladry From Bristish Broadsides, 1957) sul finire del 1700 primi dell’Ottocento, sulla melodia The Road and the Miles to Dundee
Personaggio curioso, Andrew Sharpe, ciabattino di Perth (Scozia), ma anche suonatore di flauto, pittore, compositore e cantore di canti d’amore, eppure la canzone è meglio nota nella sua versione dal Celtic Canada, come è stata raccolta da Helen Creighton durante il suo lavoro di ricerca nel Nuovo Brunswick dal 1954 al 1960 e finita in “Folksongs from Southern New Brunswick” (1971) . Il testimone Angelo Dornan, viveva a Elgin, NB (Canada orientale) al momento della registrazione. La maggior parte del suo repertorio proviene dall’Irlanda del Nord, il luogo d’origine dei suoi genitori.

La ballata si annovera tra i canti “pastorali” molto popolari in Inghilterra, Irlanda e Scozia nei secoli XVII e XVIII: questo genere letterario si caratterizza per il contrasto amoroso tra una pastorella e un corteggiatore (anch’egli pastorello, oppure come in questo caso, un gentiluomo di passaggio) spesso a sfondo erotico o piccantemente allusivo. Le versioni testuali sono abbastanza simili e descrivono la stessa storia: mentre una rustica ma assai graziosa pastorella custodisce il gregge, un giovane la spia e la corteggia; la canzone si sviluppa quindi sul modello di contrasto amoroso con “botta e risposta” tra le parti, con lui che cerca di sedurla e lei che si sottrae, ben sapendo che non sarebbe mai diventata la sua sposa, a causa della loro differenza di rango. In realtà le giovani popolane che si aggiravano per le campagne e i boschi erano ben facili prede (più o meno consensuali) degli uomini “cacciatori” e spesso queste ballate si concludevano con l’annuncio di infauste gravidanze. (continua)

HAPPY END

“The Lass of Glanshee” ha un lieto fine come nelle belle favole i due si sposano e vivono per sempre felici e contenti!

Altan in Horse With A Heart 1989: con il loro equilibrato repertorio fondato sulla musica tradizionale del Donegal e gli influssi scozzesi diffondono in tutto il mondo ballate, filastrocche e canzoncine in gaelico che finiscono immancabilmente nelle compilation di musica celtica. Così la loro versione di The Lass of Glanshee, pur eseguita su una canzone originaria della Scozia, è diventata uno standard per i gruppi di musica irlandese.
Anuna (I, II,IV,V, VI)

Cara Dillon live

Greenoch interessante la versione del duo italiano Cecilia Gonnelli e Roger Taradel

I
One morning in springtime
as day was a-dawning
Bright Phoebus had risen
from over the lea
I spied a fair maiden
as homeward she wandered
From herding her flocks
on the hills of Glenshee
II
I stood in amazement,
says I, “Pretty fair maid
If you will come down
to St. John’s Town (1) with me
There’s ne’er been a lady
set foot in my castle (2)
There’s ne’er been a lady
dressed grander than thee
III
A coach and six horses
to go at your bidding
And all men that speak
shall say “ma’am unto thee
Fine servants to serve you
and go at your bidding”
I’ll make you my bride,
my sweet lass of Glenshee”
IV
“Oh what do I care for
your castles and coaches?
And what do I care
for your gay grandeury (3)?
I’d rather be home at my cot,
at my spinning
Or herding my flocks
on the hills of Glenshee”
V
“Away with such nonsense
and get up beside me
E’er summer comes on
my sweet bride you will be
And then in my arms
I will gently caress thee”
‘Twas then she consented,
I took her with me
VI
Seven years have rolled on
since we were united
There’s many’s a change,
but there’s no change on me
And my love, she’s as fair
as that morn on the mountain
When I plucked me a wild rose (4)
on the hills of Glenshee

Traduzione italiana Cattia Salto
I
Una mattina di Primavera
allo spuntar del giorno,
Febo luminoso era sorto
e da oltre il prato
osservai una graziosa fanciulla
mentre vagabondava sulla via di casa
e badava al gregge
sulle colline di Glenshee.
II
Meravigliato le dissi:
“Dolce e bella fanciulla,
se tu verrai a valle
a Perth con me
nessuna altra donna
metterà piede nel mio castello
e nessuna altra donna sarà
vestita più sontuosamente di te
III
Una carrozza trainata da 6 cavalli
avrai al tuo servizio
e tutti gli uomini che interrogherete
vi diranno ‘Madama al vostro cospetto
eleganti servitori per servirvi
e andare al vostro comando’
ti farò mia sposa,
mia dolce ragazza di Glenshee”
IV
“Ma cosa volete che m’importi del vostro castello e della vostra carrozza?
Cosa volete che mi interessi della vostra ricchezza?
Preferisco stare a casa nel mio letto,
al mio filatoio
o pascolare il gregge
sulle colline di Glenshee”
V
“Basta con queste sciocchezze
e fermati accanto a me,
già l’estate arriverà
tu sarai la mia dolce sposa
e allora tra le braccia
ti stringerò piano”
Così lei acconsentì
e la presi con me.
VI
Sette anni sono passati
da quando ci siamo sposati
ci sono stati dei cambiamenti,
ma non per me
e il mio amore, lei è chiara
come quel mattino sulla montagna
quando mi colse una rosa selvaggia sulle Colline di Glenshee

NOTE
1) la città di Perth che conseva una antica chiesa (St John’s Kirk) e anticamente prendeva il nome di Saint John’s Toun o St Johnstone.
2) il Perthshire è disseminato di castelli sparsi per la bellissima campagna ma anche vicini alla città di Perth: Castello di Balhousie, Castello di Huntingtower, Scone Palace, Elcho Castle, Castello di Fingask, Castello di Strathallan, Blair Castle (continua)
3) la strofa ricalca la popolarissima Raggle Taggle Gypsie
4) i due non si sono limitati a tenersi per mano, e la rosa non è solo un fiore

LA VERSIONE SCOZZESE/CANADESE: THE HILLS OF GLENSHEE

Le colline di Glenshee si trovano nella contea di Pert, la ‘Fairy Glen’ la collina delle Fate, quasi al centro della Scozia è una rinomata località sciistica invernale e meta di escursioni d’estate.

Con il titolo “The Hills of Glenshee” è la variante diffusa a Terranova.
Harry Hibbs una versione più country, dall’icona della musica tradizionale di Terranova

I
One fine summer’s mornin’
as I went out walkin’,
Just as the grey dawn
flew over the sea (1),
I happened to spy
a fair haired young damsel,
Attending her flock
by the hills of Glenshee.
II
I said,” pretty fair one,
will you be my dear one,
For I’ll take you over,
my bride for to be;
And this very night
in my arms I will hold you,
While you tend your flock
on the hills of Glenshee.”
III
“Oh no, my dear sir,
you’ll not take me over,
None of your footmen
to wait upon me;
I would rather stay home
in my own homespun clothing,
And attend to my flock
on the hills of Glenshee.”
IV
For twenty long years
we’ve both been together,
Seasons may change
but there’s no change in me;
And if God lets me live
and I have my right senses,
I’ll never prove false (2)
to the girl on Glenshee.
V
She’s Mary, my Mary,
my own lovin’ darlin’,
She’s as pure as the perfume
blows over the sea;
And her cheeks are as pale
as the white rose of summer,
That spreads out its leaves
on the hills of Glenshee.
VI
She’s Mary, my Mary,
my own lovin’ darlin’,
I do love her so
and I know she loves me;
And I’ll never prove false
to my girl where I met her,
No I’ll never prove false
to the girl on Glenshee.
No I’ll never prove false
to the girl on Glenshee.

Traduzione italiana Cattia Salto
I
Una bella mattina d’estate
mentre ero a passeggio
proprio quando la pallida alba
sorgeva dal mare
mi capitò di osservare
una giovane fanciulla dai capelli biondi
che badava al gregge
sulle colline di Glenshee.
II
Dissi: “Bella damigella,
volete essere la mia favorita
perchè vi prenderò
per essere la mia sposa
e questa stessa notte
tra le mie braccia vi terrò,
mentre badate al gregge
sulle colline di Glenshee”
III
“Oh no caro Signore
non mi prenderete
e nessuono dei vostri servitori
mi renderà omaggio;
preferisco stare a casa,
nei miei vestiti fatti a mano
a pascolare il gregge
sulle colline di Glenshee”
IV
Per venti lunghi anni
siamo stati insieme,
le stagioni possono mutare
ma io non sono cambiato;
e se Dio mi farà vivere
nel pieno possesso delle mie facoltà
non tradirò mai
la ragazza di Glenshee
V
Lei è Maria, la mia Maria
il mio amato tesoro,
è pura come la brezza
che soffia dal mare
e le sue guance sono pallide
come la rosa bianca dell’estate
quando le foglie germogliano
sulle Colline di Glenshee
VI
Lei è Maria, la mia Maria
il mio amato tesoro,
l’amo così
e so che lei mi ama
non tradirò mai
la mia ragazza che ho incontrato,
non tradirò mai
la ragazza di Glenshee
non tradirò mai
la ragazza di Glenshee

NOTE
1) in senso lato non essendoci la vista mare dalle Glenshee
2) letteralmente “non sarò mai falso”

continua
FONTI
https://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/songs/NFLD1/2-10.htm
https://soundcloud.com/catherinecrowe/01-the-rose-of-glenshee?in=catherinecrowe/sets/field-recordings-of-angelo
http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WiscFolkSong/data/docs/WiscFolkSong/400/000333.pdf
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=50613
http://folksongsatlanticcanada.blogspot.it/2012/04/new-brunswick-folk-songs.html
https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/JNBS/article/view/20084/23145
http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/26/hills.htm

Dún do shúil, a lullaby from the irish sea

Leggi in italiano

Dún do shúil, (“Close Your Eyes”) is a lullaby in Irish Gaelic in which the mother cradles her hungry child telling him that Dad has gone hunting and that he will bring some fresh fish. Perhaps dating back to the age of the great famine when the poor people died because of the disease of the potatoes; or it could simply be the beginning of summer (which according to Gaelic custom begins with Beltane) the worst period for those who live on the fruits of the earth, because the provisions accumulated for the winter are almost finish.

Altan (voice Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh) from Local Ground 2005
For the TV series Anam an Amhráin the singing becomes waves of the sea and the child dreams of his father with his boat that magically navigates among the hills and the stars

CLOSE YOUR EYES *
Close your eyes, O love of my heart
My everything and my love
Close your eyes, O love of my heart
And you will get a reward tomorrow
I
Your dad is coming from the hills
With game and grouse in plenty
So close your eyes, my love, my joy
And you will get a reward tomorrow
II
The summer sun shines bright and warm
And potato stalks grow greener
A bracing breeze blows from the south
And we will have fish tomorrow

DÚN DO SHÚIL
Dún do shúil, a rún mo chroí
A chuid den tsaol, ‘s a ghrá liom
Dún do shúil, a rún mo chroí
Agus gheobhair feirín amárach
I
Tá do dheaid ag teacht gan mhoill ón chnoc
Agus cearca fraoich ar láimh leis
Agus codlaidh go ciúin ‘do luí sa choid
Agus gheobhair feirín amárach
II
Tá an samhradh ag teacht le grian is le teas
Agus duilliúr ghlas ar phrátaí
Tá an ghaoth ag teacht go fial aneas
Agus gheobhaimid iasc amárach

Lullabies & Nursery Rhymes (Ninnananne e Filastrocche)

LINK
http://songsinirish.com/p/dun-do-shuil-lyrics.html
http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/topic12997.html
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/meav/close.htm

Sailor’s farewell: on the sailor’s side!

Leggi in italiano

A further variant of “Sailor’s Farewell” is titled “Adieu, My Lovely Nancy” (aka “Swansea Town,” and “The Holy Ground”) found in England, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and the United States. It’s developed on twice directions, on the one hand it’s the typical and cheerful sea shanty, sometimes rough and with a lot of drink, and on the other it becomes a more intimate and fragile vein, which reflects on the solitude and danger of the sea. In these versions the sailor is enlisted in the Royal Navy.

Copper Family: Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy

Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy is one of the best-known songs from the repertoire of the Copper Family. It was published in the first issue of the Journal of the Folk Song Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, in 1899, a version also released in Australia and entitled “Lovely Nancy”, in which it is only the handsome sailor who speaks during the separation on the shore.

Maddy Prior & Tim Hart 1968 from Folk Songs of Old England Vol. 1

The Ballina Whalers

Ed, Will & Ginger from a free session in front of the pub for “Ed and Will in A walk around Britain”

ADIEU SWEET LOVELY NANCY
I
Adieu sweet lovely Nancy,
ten thousand times adieu
I’m going around the ocean love
to seek for something new
Come change your ring(1)
with me dear girl
come change your ring with me
for it might be a token of true love while I am on the sea.
II
And when I’m far upon the sea
you’ll know not where I am
Kind letters I will write to you
from every foreign land
the secrets of your heart dear girl
are the best of my good will
So let your body(2) be where, it might my heart will be with you still.
III
There’s a heavy storm arising
see how it gathers round
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are fighting for the crown (3)
There’s nothing to protect us love
or keep us from the cold
On the ocean wide where
we must bide like jolly seamen bold.

IV
There’s tinkers tailors shoemakers
lie snoring fast asleep
While we poor souls
on the ocean wide are ploughing through the deep
Our officers commanded us
and then we must obey
Expecting every moment
for to get cast away.
V
But when the wars are over
there’ll be peace on every shore
We’ll return to our wives and our families and the girls that we adore
We’ll call for liquor merrily
and spend our money free
And when our money is all gone
we’ll boldly go to sea.

NOTES
1) Ring is a proof of identity of the soldier that will sometimes remain absent for long years
2) In the part of dialogue ometted Nancy wants to dress up as a sailor to go with him.
3) the reference is always to broadside ballad version in which our johnny (slang term for sailor) has enlisted in the Royal Navy and wants Nancy to stay home waiting for him.

AMERICAN/ IRISH VERSION: ADIEU MY LOVELY NANCY

Julie Henigan from American Stranger 1997 “I learned this version from the Max Hunter Collection. Hunter was a traveling salesman and amateur folksong collector from Springfield, Missouri, who amassed an impressive number of field recordings from the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks. When I was a teenager I learned many songs from the cassette tapes of his collection that were housed in the Springfield Public Library.
Hunter recorded this song in 1959 from Bertha Lauderdale, of Fayetteville, Arkansas. She had learned the song from her grandfather, who, in turn, had learned it from his grandmother, when “he was a young child in Ireland.” Since I recorded the song on American Stranger (Waterbug 038), Altan, Jeff Davis, Nancy Conescu, Gerald Trimble, and Pete Coe have all added it to their repertoires.”

Altan from Local Ground, 2005

ADIEU MY LOVELY NANCY
I
Adieu, my lovely Nancy,
Ten thousand times adieu,
I’ll be thinking of my own true love,
I’ll be thinking, dear, of you.
II
Will you change a ring(1)
with me, my love,
Will you change a ring with me?
It will be a token of our love,
When I am far at sea.
III
When I am far away from home
And you know not where I am,
Love letters I will write to you
From every foreign strand.
IV
When the farmer boys
come home at night,
They will tell their girls fine tales
Of all that they’ve been doing
All day out in the fields;

V
Of the wheat and hay
that they’ve cut down,
Sure, it’s all that they can do,
While we poor jolly,
jolly hearts of oak(2)
Must plough the seas all through.
VI
And when we return again, my love,
To our own dear native shore,
Fine stories we will tell to you,
How we ploughed the oceans o’er.
VII
And we’ll make the alehouses to ring,
And the taverns they will roar,
And when our money it is all gone,
Sure, we’ll go to sea for more.

NOTES
1) Ring is a proof of identity of the soldier that will sometimes remain absent for long years
2) hearts of oak rerefers to the wood from which British warships were generally made during the age of sail. The “Heart of oak” is the strongest central wood of the tree.

Ralph Vaughan Williams: LOVELY ON THE WATER
Cecil Sharp: LOVELY NANCY
versione inglese: FARE YE WELL/ADIEU, LOVELY NANCY
versione inglese: ADIEU SWEET LOVELY NANCY
versione americana/irlandese: ADIEU MY LOVELY NANCY
Sea shanty: HOLY GROUND

FONTI
http://mainlynorfolk.info/steeleye.span/songs/adieusweetlovelynancy.html
https://www.acousticmusicarchive.com/adieu-sweet-lovely-nancy-chords-lyrics

GREEN GROW THE RASHES

Leggi in italiano

ritratto di Robert Burns — Robert Burns – Alexander Nasmyth 1787

Robert Burns wrote “Green Grow The Rushes O” (Green Grow The Rashes O) in September 1784: a deft compliment to the lasses, and a exhortation to “carpe diem”. A song often performed during Burns Supper at the time of “Toast to the lassies“.

BAWDY VERSION

In “The Merry Muses of Caledonia” were published two bawdy lyrics collected by him, but Robbie rewrote some verses about spring time when the hours spent loving are sweeter. In Burns there is often a vein of protest towards the moralists and the puritans, a trace of anarchy that leads him to reject the conventions and everything that limits the free union of friends and lovers. So there is nothing morally wrong in enjoying the pleasures of life: the best moments are those spent loving women, the sex that nature did after man, more perfect!

in Poetry of Robert Burns Centenary Edition 1896

Deacon Blue, Glasgow pop band live for scottish BBC “That”

Dougie MacLean: songwriter and folk singer has dedicated an album to Robert Burns titled “Tribute” released in 1995 but “Green Grow The Rushes” is published in the next album “Real Estate” (1988) to remain a song that Dougie loves to sing in public

Jim Malcolm in Sparkling Flash 2011: lovely scottish accent, easygoing and seductive voice, interesting arrangement with the electric guitar

Altan in Another Sky -2000

Cherish The Ladies in New Day Dawning 1996

Eddie Reader in “The songs of Robert Burns” deluxe edition 2013

CHORUS
Green grow the rushes oh(1)
Green grow the rushes oh
The sweetest hours that e’re I spent
Were spent among the lassies oh
I
There’s nought but care on every hand
In every hour that passes oh
That signifies the life of man
and twere na for the lassies oh
II
The wordly race may riches chase
And riches still may fly them oh
And tho’ at last they catch them fast
Their hearts can ne’er enjoy them oh

III
But gie me a canny(2) hour at e’en
My arms about my dearie3) oh
And warly(4) cares and warly men
May a gae(5) topsy-turvy(6) oh
IV
For you sae douce you sneer at this
You’re nought but senseless asses oh
The wisest man (7) the world e’er saw
He dearly loved the lassies oh
V
Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes, O:
Her prentice han’ she try’d on man,
An’ then she made the lasses, O.

NOTES
read in Standard English
1) rasches=rushes; there is also a Christmas song with the same title. Many believe that the word “green grow” is the basis of the Spanish word “gringos” with which the Mexicans called Americans during the nineteenth-century wars. According to the “Diccionario Castellano” of 1787 the term was used in Malaga to address a person who spoke ill Spanish and in particular in Madrid was synonymous with Irish. Most likely the term gringo comes from the Spanish”griego”. In English it says in fact “it’s Greek to me” while in Spanish “hablar en griego”.
2) canny=quiet
3) dearie= deary
4) war’ly=warlike.
5) gae = go
6) topsy-turvy (or “tapsalteerie”)= confused, or lackingorganization; upside down:
7) Salomon
There’s some say I’m foolish, there’s more say I’m wise,
For love of the women I’m sure ‘tis no crime;
For the son of King David had ten hundred wives
And his wisdom is highly recorded. (in The Limerick Rake see)

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Merry_Muses_of_Caledonia/Green_Grow_the_Rashes
http://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/pageturner.cfm?id=94624648
http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/g/grngrora.html
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=45563
https://thesession.org/tunes/1936

Don Oíche Úd I MBeithil o Do You Hear What I Hear?

Il canto di natale in gaelico irlandese dal titolo ” Don Oíche Úd I MBeithil” (That Night in Bethlehem = quella notte a Betlemme) è una poesia scritta da Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil (1571-1626); la melodia è considerata tradizionale anche se talvolta viene attribuita a Sean Óg Ó Tuama il quale la pubblicò negli anni 1950 in un raccolta di canti in irlandese dal titolo “An Cóisir Cheoil”

Hugh MacCaghwell o dal latino Ugo Cavellus era un teologo francescano nonchè arcivescovo di Armagh al cui patronimico venne aggiunto il nome di “Mac Aingil” (figlio di un Angelo) per le sue opere maggiori sulla dottrina cristiana particolarmente ispirate. Scrisse anche quattro Carol natalizi in gaelico, tra cui ” Don Oíche Úd I MBeithil”

ASCOLTA The Chieftains

ASCOLTA Altan live
ASCOLTA Celtic Woman

Gaelico irlandese
I
Don oíche úd i mBeithil
beidh tagairt faoi ghréin go brách,
Don oíche úd i mBeithil
gur tháinig an Briathar slán;
Tá gríosghrua ar spéartha
‘s an talamh ‘na chlúdach bán;
Féach Íosagán sa chléibhín,
‘s an Mhaighdean ‘Á dhiúl le grá (1)
II
Ar leacain lom an tsléibhe
go nglacann na haoirí scáth
Nuair in oscailt gheal na spéire
tá teachtaire Dé ar fáil;
Céad glóir anois don Athair
sa bhFlaitheasa thuas go hard!
Is feasta fós ar sa thalamh
d’fheara dea-mhéin’ siocháin!

Traduzione inglese *
I
I sing of a night in Bethlehem
A night as bright as dawn
I sing of that night in Bethlehem
The night the Word was born
The skies are glowing gaily
The earth in white is dressed
See Jesus in the cradle
Drink deep in His mother’s breast (1)
II
And there on a lonely hillside
The shepherds bow down in fear
When the heavens open brightly
And God’s message rings out so clear
“Glory now to the Father
In all the heavens high
And peace to His friends on earth below (2) ” Is all the angels cry

Traduzione italiano di Cattia Salto
I
Canto di quella notte a Betlemme,
notte luminosa come l’alba,
canto di quella notte a Betlemme
la notte in cui il Verbo è nato;
i cieli risplendevano di gioia
la terra di bianco era ricoperta
per vedere Gesù nella culla, mentre succhiava dal seno della mamma
II
E c’erano sulla collina brulla
i pastori che si accasciarono dalla paura, quando i Cieli s’illuminarono
e il messaggio di Dio risuonò forte
“Gloria al Padre
nell’alto dei Cieli
e pace agli uomini di buona volontà”
gridarono gli angeli

NOTE
* tratta da qui
1) And the Virgin nursing him with love
2) citazione dal vangelo di Luca

Do You Hear What I Hear?

La canzone natalizia fu scritta nel 1962 da Gloria Shayne Baker (per la musica) e Noël Regney (per il testo) come un inno alla pace durante la crisi missilistica cubana. Una lunga lista d’interpreti l’hanno resa celebre in tutto il mondo. Unisco i due brani perchè così ha fatto Moya Brennan nel suo album “An Irish Christmas”
ASCOLTA Moya Brennan in “An Irish Christmas” 2005 unisce due canti Do You Hear e Don Oíche Úd I MBeithil (Do you hear what I hear strofe II, III + Don oíche úd i mBeithil strofa I + Do you hear what I hear strofa IV)

ASCOLTA Orla Fallon in “Celtic Christmas” 2010

I
Said the night wind
to the little lamb,
“Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky,
little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite.”
II
“Do you hear what I hear?”
Said the little lamb
to the shepherd boy
“Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky,
shepherd boy?
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea”
III
Said the shepherd boy
to the mighty king
“Do you know what I know
In your palace warm,
mighty king?
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold”
IV
Said the king
to the people everywhere
“Listen to what I say
Pray for peace,
people everywhere
Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light”
(1)

Traduzione italiano di Cattia Salto
I
Disse la notte
all’angellino
“Vedi quello che vedo?
In alto nel cielo
o angellino, vedi quello che vedo?
Una stella, una stella che danza nella notte, con una coda lunga come un aquilone”
II
“Senti quello che sento?”
Disse l’agnellino
al pastorello
“Senti quello che sento?
Che risuna in cielo
o pastorello? Senti quello che sento?
Un canto, un canto che si leva alto tra gli alberi,
con una voce profonda come il mare”
III
Disse il pastorello
al Re magnifico
“Sai quello che so
(tu che stai) nel tuo palazzo al caldo,
o magnifico Re?
Sai quello che so? Un bambino, un bambino rabbrividisce al freddo,
gli porteremo argento e oro”
IV
Disse il re
alla gente di tutto il mondo
“Ascoltate quello che dico
pregate per la pace,
o gente di tutto il mondo.
Ascoltate quello che dico
il Bambino, il Bambino che dorme nella notte
ci porterà la bontà e la luce”

NOTE
1) Moya conclude con
Listen to what I say
Do you know what I know?
Do you hear what I hear?”

FONTI
http://anglandicus.blogspot.it/2013/12/when-word-safely-came.html
http://songsinirish.com/don-oiche-ud-i-mbeithil-lyrics/
https://thegatheringfire.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/that-night-in-bethlehem-an-irish-christmas-carol/
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/brennan/doyou.htm

Altan musica di famiglia

Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh e **Francie Mooney**

Dal nome di un piccolo lago ai piedi del monte Errigal nel nord-ovest del Donegal il gruppo Altan è fondato nello scorcio del 1980 da Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh, figlia di Proinsias Ó Maonaigh (ossia Francie Mooney), rinomato fiddler di Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), che già nei primi anni ’70 aveva chiamato il suo gruppo di musica tradizionale “Ceoltoiri Altan”.
Mairéad , dalla voce d’angelo e dalle abili dita da leprecauno, conosce sul finire degli anni ’70 il suo futuro compagno del cuore, il flautista Frankie Kennedy. I due giovanissimi (18enne lui e 14enne lei) si conobbero all’insegna della musica essendo solito per Frankie (di Belfast) trascorrere l’estate a Gweedore per imparare il gaelico irlandese e approfondire lo studio del flauto irlandese e del whistle. Entrambi tirocinanti al St.Patrick College di Dublino, si sposano e nel 1983 incidono un album “Ceol Adush” (Gael Linn: ‘musica del Nord’) a quei tempi la musica del Donegal non varcava i confini della Gaeltacht.
Ascoltiamo la loro intesa perfetta mentre suonano seduti al tavolo di un pub
https://youtu.be/hn12ns2XzwQ
https://youtu.be/5JH-NXoGLBU
E’ però “Altan” (1987) considerato l’album del debutto in gruppo con Ciarán Curran al bouzouki e Mark Kelly alla chitarra e la collaborazione di Dónal Lunny – Bodhrán , tastiere.

Diventati un quintetto con l’entrata del violino di Paul O’Shaughnessy (che lascerà il gruppo nel 1992) incidono “Horse with a Heart” (1989): con il loro equilibrato repertorio fondato sulla musica tradizionale del Donegal e gli influssi scozzesi diffondono in tutto il mondo filastrocche e canzoncine in gaelico che finiscono immancabilmente nelle compilation di musica celtica.

ASCOLTA Lass of Glanshee in “Horse with a Heart” (1989)

e proseguono con una serie di album ( The Red Crow, Harvest Storm e Island Angel ) che si aggiudicano il titolo di Best Celtic Album assegnato dalla NAIRD e con i quali vincono premi e si assestano in vetta alla charts delle isole britanniche: il frutto più maturo è forse “Island Angel” del 1993 una scaletta perfetta di brani cantati, set da danza e slow air, (per lo più tradizionali ma anche composti dai membri del gruppo) chiude la “Aingeal an Oileáin” scritta da Mairéad per il suo Frankie, che morirà poco dopo sconfitto dal tumore diagnosticato l’anno precedente, ASCOLTA

UN PATTO DI SANGUE

Con Mairéad e Frankie Kennedy Ciaran Tourish (violino, whistle), Ciarán Curran (Bouzouki e chitarra), Mark Kelly (chitarra), Dáithí Sproule (chitarra); Frankie fa promettere a tutti i componenti del gruppo di continuare a suonare insieme anche dopo la sua morte, tutti i cinque giurano di mantenere vivo il progetto musicale e così sarà, mostrandosi la line-up più longeva.

ASCOLTA Scotch Style Jig (Andy de Jarlis) – Ingonish (Mike McDougall) – Mrs. McGhee (trad) in “Island Angel“, 1993

Il gruppo non si scioglie anche se ha bisogno di tempo per ripartire, nel 1996 pubblica Blackwater con Dermot Byrne all’organetto (a cui subentra nel 2014 Martin Tourish) a riformare il sestetto e un nutrito entourage di rinforzo, ma è con Another Sky registrato nel 2000 che ritrova lo stato di grazia (e nasce l’amore tra Mairéad e Dermot Byrne): set strumentali irresistibili, più song e una voce sopraffina.

ASCOLTA Beidh Aonach Amárach in Another Sky, 2000 video promozionale

ASCOLTA Altan & Chieftains live a Woodhill House “The Donegal Set”: un miracolo di sincronismo

Nel nuovo corso pur restando sempre fedeli alla tradizione irlandese (in particolare del Donegal e gli influssi scozzesi) gli Altan si approcciano alla balladry americana e alla musica appalacchiana; la tendenza sarà via via approfondita negli album successivi.

(Image: www.jamescummingsphotography.com)

E così con The Blue Idol (2002) Local Groung (2005) Gleann Nimhe (2012) e The Windening Gyne (2015) i cinque arrivano al loro 35esimo anniversario.

NA MOONEYS

E la tradizione continua, da genuino chieftain (capo clan) Mairéad raccoglie intorno a se la sua parentela e getta un ponte tra le generazioni, “una famiglia di musicisti e cantanti della Donegal Gaeltacht”: le sorelle Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, leader degli Altan (voce e violino), e Anna Ní Mhaonaigh, già nel gruppo Macalla (voce e whistle), il fratello Gearóid Ó Maonaigh (chitarra) e suo figlio Ciarán (violino e violino baritono). Con la collaborazione di Nia Byrne, figlia di Mairéad (violino e voce) e Caitlin Nic Gabhan, moglie di Ciarán (concertina, podiritmia e danza). In aggiunta l’amico di sempre Mànus Lunny (bouzouki, tastiere, co-produzione e fonico).
Nell’album del debutto (2016) dal titolo omonimo fa capolino papà Proinnsias (deceduto nel 2006) e il repertorio rende omaggio all’antenato caposcuola della fiddle music e della cultura orale della contea (da ascoltare tutto qui)
ASCOLTA Máire Mhór live

tag Altan

FONTI
http://www.mairead.ie/
https://altan.ie/
https://www.irlandaonline.com/cultura/musica/artisti-irlandesi/altan/

https://namooneys.bandcamp.com/

Cailín deas crúite na mbó, a pastoral love song

Milking was once a female task and women usually sang a lullaby to the cows to keep them quiet, which was at the same time a spell to ward off the evil eye and get an abundant production of good milk.
The Church has often been wary of the songs of beautiful girls busy milking cows, considering at that as magical rituals or prayers to the ancient gods.
[Mungere era un tempo un compito femminile e le donne solitamente cantavano una ninna-nanna alle mucche per tenerle tranquille, che era al contempo un incantesimo per allontanare il malocchio e ottenere una produzione abbondante di buon latte.
La Chiesa è stata spesso diffidente verso i canti delle belle fanciulle intente a mungere le mucche, considerandoli dei rituali magici o preghiere verso gli antichi dei.]
An anecdote includes the song “Cailín Deas Cruíte na mBó” among the Irish songs brings bad luck: a priest was going to the bedside of a dying man but he lingered to listen a milkmaid to singing; so he arrived at his destination when the man was already dead. The “beautiful maiden” was the devil who had managed to stop the priest from bringing the sacrament of confession to a dying man. In fact, the melody is considered a fairy song, not being unusual in Irish folklore the story of a maiden kidnapped for to milk the deer.. (see more)
[E infatti un aneddoto annovera la canzone “Cailín Deas Cruíte na mBó” tra le canzoni irlandesi porta sfortuna: si dice che un sacerdote stesse recandosi al capezzale di un uomo morente per prestagli l’estrema unzione, ma si attardò ad ascoltare il canto di una contadinella; così arrivò a destinazione quando oramai l’uomo era già morto. La “bella fanciulla” altri non era che il diavolo che era riuscito a impedire al sacerdote di portate il conforto della confessione al moribondo. In effetti la melodia è considerata un canto delle fate, non essendo insolito nel folklore irlandese il racconto di fanciulle rapite e messe a guardia di bovini o cervidi.. (vedi)]
The figure of a maiden milking a cow is found carved on the walls of many medieval churches and it is a very old presence in the land of Ireland and more generally along the coasts of the British and European islands; in the pastures it is often found a “milking stone” cupped in which the women left offerings of milk to the gruagach, a spirit associated with a sacred cow coming from the sea. It could be the memory of ancient rituals celebrated by priestesses of the Mother Goddess which were transformed into fairy creatures. (keep it going)
[La figura di una fanciulla che munge una mucca si ritrova scolpita sulle mura di molte chiese medievali ed è una presenza molto antica in terra d’Irlanda e più in generale lungo le coste delle isole britanniche e d’ Europa, così si trova sempre negli alpeggi una “milking stone” coppellata in cui le donne lasciavano offerte di latte allo spirito guardiano del luogo denominato spesso gruagach (e in origine sicuramente di genere femminile) associato ad una vacca sacra giunta dal mare e ad una pietra coppellata . Potrebbe essere il ricordo di antichissimi rituali celebrati da sacerdotesse della Dea Madre e in seguito trasformate in creature fatate. continua]

Cailín deas crúite na mbó
-A pastoral love song

A scorned lover yearns for the beautiful milkmaid and he would like to take her in wife preferring her to the daughter of the King.
[Un innamorato respinto spasima per la bella lattaia e vorrebbe prenderla in moglie preferendola alla figlia del Re.]

Danú in When All Is Said and Done 2005

Runa in Stretched On Your Grave 2011
Altan in Gleann Nimhe – The Poison Glen 2012 ♪

Mary Mc Laughlin in Sacred Days Mythic Ways 2013

Lumiere in My Dearest Dear 2013

Irish gaelic
I
Tá blian nó níos mó ‘gam ag éisteacht
Le cogar doilíosach mo mheoin,
Ó casadh liom grá geal mo chléibhe
Tráthnóna brea gréine san fhómhar.
Bhí an bhó bhainne chumhra ag géimneach
Is na h-éanlaith go meidhreach ag ceol,
Is ar bhruach an tsruthán ar leathaobh dhom
Bhí cailín deas crúite na mbó.
II
Tá a súile mar lonradh na gréine,
Ag scaipeadh trí spéartha gan cheo,
‘s is deirge a grua ná na caora
Ar lasadh measc craobha na gcnó.
Tá a béilin níos dílse na sméara,
‘s is gile ná leamhnacht a snó,
Níl ógbhean níos deise san saol seo
Ná cailín deas crúite na mbó.

III
Dá bhfaighinnse árd Tiarnas na hÉireann
Éadacha, síoda is sróil
Dá bhfaighinnse an bhanríon is airde
Dá bhfuil ar an dtalamh so beo
Dá bhfaighinnse céad loingis mar spré dhom
Píoláidi, caisleáin is ór
Bfhearr liom bheith fán ar na sléibhte
Lem chailín deas crúite na mbó
IV
Muna bhfuil sé i ndán dom bheith in éineacht
Leis an spéirbhean ró-dhílis úd fós
Is daoirseach, dubhrónach mo shaolsa
Gan suaimhneas, gan éifeacht, gan treo
Ní bheidh sólás im chroí ná im intinn
Ná suaimhneas orm oíche ná ló
Nó bhfeice mé taobh liom óna muintir
Mo cailín deas crúite na mbó

English translation
I
I am listening for more than a year
To my mind’s melancholy whispering
Since I met the bright love of my heart
One evening late in autumn
The cow of the fragrant-smelling milk was lowing
And the birds were merry with song
And on the bank of the stream by my side
Was the pretty milkmaid
II
Her eyes are like the shining sun
Dispersing the mist through the skies
And her cheeks are redder than the rowan trees/ Alight among the branches on the hill
Her mouth is sweeter than blackberries
And her complexion brighter than new milk
There is not a lovelier young woman in the world/
Than the pretty milkmaid
III
If I were to receive High Lordship of Ireland
Clothing of silk or satin
Or the highest queen that there is
Alive in this world
If I received a hundred ships as a dowry
Palaces, castles and gold
I would prefer to be wandering the hillsides
With my pretty milkmaid
IV
If it is not in store for me to be together
With that too-faithful beauty as yet
It is limited and sad my life will be
Without peace, without merit, without direction
There will be no consolation in my heart or my mind
I will have no rest by night or day
Until I see by my side from her people
My pretty milkmaid

Traduzione italiano Cattia Salto
I
Ascolto da più di un anno
i sospiri malinconici del mio cuore
sin da quando incontrai il mio luminoso amore
una sera del tardo autunno,
la mucca dal latte profumato d’erbe mungeva
e gli uccelli cantavano allegri
e sulla riva del ruscello accanto a me
c’era la bella lattaia.
II
Gli occhi come il sole splendente
quando disperde la nebbia nei cieli,
le guance più rosse del sorbo
appeso tra i rami sulla collina;
la sua bocca è più dolce delle more
e la sua carnagione più luminosa del latte fresco,
non c’è fanciulla più amabile al mondo
della graziosa lattaia.
III
Se ricevessi dall’Alto Luogotenente d’Irlanda
vestiti di seta e di raso
o dalla regina più maestosa
che esista al mondo,
se anche ricevessi un centinaio di navi come dote
palazzi, castelli e oro,
preferirei piuttosto vagare per le colline
con la mia bella lattaia
IV
Se non è destino per me restare insieme
con quella bellezza così leale,
limitata e triste sarà la mia vita,
senza pace, merito e guida.
Non ci sarà consolazione nel mio cuore o nella mia mente
non ci sarà riposo notte e giorno
finchè non vedrò al mio fianco
la mia bella lattaia

A pretty girl milking her cow: second part

LINK
https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4644827/4612884/4645306
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/danu/ancailin.htm
http://www.irishpage.com/songs/cailinbo.htm
http://songsinirish.com/cailin-deas-cruite-na-mbo-lyrics/

https://thesession.org/tunes/1758

Wind & Rain

La ballata “The two sisters” è originaria dalla Svezia o più in generale dai paesi scandinavi (in epoca pre-cristiana) ma si è diffusa largamente anche in alcuni paesi dell’Est e nelle isole britanniche.
The murder ballad “The two sisters” originates from Sweden or more generally from the Scandinavian countries, but has spread widely also in some Eastern countries and in the British Isles.

La narrazione si presta come sempre a molteplici letture fuori dal testo e tuttavia nell’approdare in America la ballata “The two sisters” si sfronda degli aspetti favolistici e mitici (re, regine, cigni e strumenti magici) per diventare una più tipica murder ballad: il movente non è solo la gelosia ma principalmente una questione di denaro. (vedi quinta parte) Anche la caratterizzazione delle sorelle una bionda e l’altra bruna viene meno, sono semplicemente la maggiore e la minore d’età.
Ma prima di arrivare a questo estremo ci sono tutta una serie di versioni intermedie tra cui quella irlandese o irlandese/appalacchiana intitolata “The wind and rain” è la più conosciuta.
The ballad lends itself to multiple readings out of the text and yet in the United States is deprived by the fabulous and mythical aspects (kings, queens, swans and magical instruments) to become a more typical murder ballad: the motive is not only the jealousy but mainly a question of money. (see fifth part) Also the sisters are simply the major and the minor of age.
But before arriving at this extreme there are a whole series of intermediate versions including the Irish or Irish / Appalacchian entitled “The wind and rain” that is the best known.

QUARTA VERSIONE: O THE WIND AND RAIN (Fourth version)

Questa versione irlandese si è diffusa in America e Bob Dylan la trasformerà, con la stessa cadenza, nella sua canzone Percy’s Song. Qui la storia descrive le due sorelle come innamorate dello stesso ragazzo, il figlio del mugnaio, sono sempre la bionda e la bruna della fiaba scozzese, e la gelosia è il movente dell’omicidio, ma i personaggi sono diventati la gente del popolo e l’arpa magica un più comune violino.
This Irish version has spread to America and Bob Dylan will transform it, with the same cadence, in his song Percy’s Song. Here the story describes the two sisters as lovers of the same boy, the son of the miller, they are always the blonde and the black one of the Scottish fable, and jealousy is the motive of murder, but the characters are common people and the magic harp is becomed a violin.

Altan in Local Ground 2005 Nel nuovo corso pur restando sempre fedeli alla tradizione irlandese (in particolare del Donegal e gli influssi scozzesi) gli Altan si approcciano alla balladry americana e alla musica appalacchiana.
In the new course, while remaining faithful to the Irish tradition (in particular Donegal and the Scottish influences) the Altan approach the American balladry and the Appalacchian music.

I
There were two sisters of County Clare(1)
Oh, the wind and rain
One was dark and the other was fair
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain
And they both had the love of the miller’s son
But he was fond of the fairer one
II
So she pushed her into the river to drown
And watched her as she floated out(2)
She floated ‘til she came to the miller’s pond
Dead on the water like a golden swan (3)
III
And she came to rest on the riverside
And her bones were washed by the rolling tide
And along the road (woods) came a fiddler fair (4)
And found her bones just lying there.
IV
So he made a fiddle peg of her long finger bone(x2)
And he strung his fiddle bow with her long yellow hair
And he made a little fiddle of her little breast bone
But the only tune(5) that the fiddle would play
Was oh, the dreadful wind and rain

Traduzione italiana Cattia Salto
I
C’erano due sorelle nella Contea di Clare
Oh il vento e la pioggia,
una era mora l’altra bionda
oh il terribile vento e la pioggia
Entrambe erano innamorate del figlio del mugnaio,
ma lui voleva solo la più bionda.
II
Così lei la spinse nel fiume per affogarla e restò a guardare mentre scivolava via.
Galleggiò finchè venne allo stagno del mugnaio, morta sull’acqua come un cigno dorato (3),
III
E lei venne a posarsi sulla riva
e le sue ossa furono lavate
dalla risacca.
Lungo la strada venne un bel violinista e trovò le ossa che stavano
proprio lì.
IV
Così fece i piroli dalle lunghe ossa delle dita
e fece le stringhe per l’archetto con i lunghi capelli biondi,
e fece un piccolo violino con lo sterno,
ma l’unica melodia(5) che il violino avrebbe suonato
era “il terribile vento e la pioggia”.

NOTE
1) la storia è opportunamente ambientata in Irlanda, nelle versioni americane il luogo diventa un generico fiume
the story is set in Ireland but in the American versions the place becomes a generic river
2) l’omicidio è stato premeditato, non è frutto di un momentaneo gesto d’ira, e la sorella non ha nessun ripensamento
the murder was premeditated, is not the result of a momentary gesture of anger, and the sister has no rethink
3) si sottolinea la purezza e l’innocenza della più giovane per far risaltare la crudeltà dell’altra sorella.
si sottolinea la purezza e l’innocenza della più giovane per far risaltare la crudeltà dell’altra sorella.
5) il menestrello itinerante della fiaba era un bardo invitato alla mensa dei nobili signori, qui è un violinista ambulante probabilmente un traveller che suona per strada e alle feste di paese.
the itinerant minstrel of the fairy tale was a bard invited to the table of noble lords, here he is a violinist probably a traveler who plays at village parties.
6) il violino non accusa o rivela ma suonerà per sempre una melodia dolente
the violin does not accuse or reveal but it will always sound a painful melody

Una versione strepitosa è quella bluegrass di Jerry Garcia & David Grisman in Shady Grove
An amazing bluegrass version
Crooked Still in “Shaken By a Low Sound“, 2009

There were two sisters came walkin’ down the stream
Oh the wind and rain
Older one pushed the youngest one in
Cryin’ oh the dreadful wind and rain
Johnny gave the youngest a gay gold ring
Didn’t give the oldest one anything
So she pushed her into the river to drown
watched her as she floated down
She floated ‘til she came to the miller’s pond
Cried father o father there swims a swan
Then out of the woods came a fidder fair
He plucked thirty strands of her long yellow hair
And he made a fiddle bow of her long yellow hair
He made fiddle pegs of her long finger bones
And he made a little fiddle of her own breast bone
The sound could melt a heart of stone
And the only tune that the fiddle would play
Was oh the wind and rain

Traduzione italiana Cattia Salto
C’erano due sorelle che camminavano lungo la corrente
Oh il vento e la pioggia,
la più grande ci spinse la più giovane
oh il terribile vento e la pioggia
Johnny diede alla più giovane un anello d’oro
e alla maggiore non diede niente
Così lei la spinse nel fiume per affogarla
e restò a guardare mentre scivolava via.
Galleggiò finchè venne allo stagno del mugnaio,
“Padre o padre c’è un cigno che nuota”
Allora fuori dal bosco venne un bel violinista (4) prese trenta corde dai suoi lunghi capelli biondi
e fece un archetto con i lunghi capelli biondi,
fece i piroli dalle lunghe ossa delle dita
e fece un piccolo violino con lo sterno,
il suono poteva sciogliere un cuore di pietra
e l’unica melodia che il violino avrebbe suonato
era “il terribile vento e la pioggia”.

The singing breastbone – Binnorie (medieval/scottish version)
Cruel Sister (Pentangle- english version)
The Bonny Swans (Loreena McKennit)
The Wind and Rain (Altan)
Two sisters (Clannad)
De två systrarna

LINK
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=147644
http://singout.org/2012/01/23/two-sisters-wind-and-rain/
http://singout.org/2012/06/19/two-sisters-redux-part-2/

Febbraio: 2019
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HAPPY END

SCOTTISH/CANADIAN VERSION: THE HILLS OF GLENSHEE

HAPPY END

LA VERSIONE SCOZZESE/CANADESE: THE HILLS OF GLENSHEE

Copper Family: Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy

AMERICAN/ IRISH VERSION: ADIEU MY LOVELY NANCY

BAWDY VERSION

Do You Hear What I Hear?

UN PATTO DI SANGUE

NA MOONEYS

Cailín deas crúite na mbó -A pastoral love song

QUARTA VERSIONE: O THE WIND AND RAIN (Fourth version)

Cailín deas crúite na mbó
-A pastoral love song