Brendan Breathnach (1996) says the word ‘humours’ in a title denotes character, mood and exuberance of spirit. It has also been described as a whim, fancy or caprice. It is used only in combination with a placename and always precedes it. “The Humours of Dublin” and “The Humours of Billingsgate” can be found in London dance music collections as far back as the mid-18th century.
Yes, I think in the U.S. we would probably tend to use the word "spirit" to indicate the same meaning, as in "the Spirit of St. Louis" or "the Spirit of '76", etc.
The four humours / temperaments ~ not to be completely written off
The four old 'humours' or temperaments aren't that removed from the use ~ emotions, high and low, cool and hot, the life in a place, or proof of it.
The four: sanguine, choleric, melancholic & phlegmatic ~ which includes the craic and the pain, and a balance between the four is probably preferred. I like the write up in Wikipedia ~
I don't know if "humours" and "spirits" are all that interchangeable. For one, "The Humours of St. Louis" is a pretty lame name for an airplane. Humours has a different history of usage to it, different connotations.
I was told that humour did not mean spirit, it meant spirits, ie whiskey. And back when so much liquor was brewed locally, what musician worth his salt wouldn't go from town to town sampling the local humours, and when they were found good, to write a tune about them.
Probably not true at all, but when presented to me, sounded pretty believable, although it might have just been the whiskey that made me believe!
tunes with humours
tunes with humours
I am new to the session
I notice the word ' humours ' as part of the title of a lot of Irish tunes, why is this?
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by sandy2
Re: tunes with humours
Brendan Breathnach (1996) says the word ‘humours’ in a title denotes character, mood and exuberance of spirit. It has also been described as a whim, fancy or caprice. It is used only in combination with a placename and always precedes it. “The Humours of Dublin” and “The Humours of Billingsgate” can be found in London dance music collections as far back as the mid-18th century.
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/HUMOURS_HUMP.htm
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: tunes with humours
It is not exclusively used with place names although that is certainly the most usual combination.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/46
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: tunes with humours
Hi, Sandy,
You'll notice when you click on the 'Discussions' tab that you're offered a search option.
If you'd clicked on that and entered the word 'humours', you would have found this discussion at the very top of the list - http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/131.
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by MacCruiskeen
Re: tunes with humours
Yes, I think in the U.S. we would probably tend to use the word "spirit" to indicate the same meaning, as in "the Spirit of St. Louis" or "the Spirit of '76", etc.
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by PatrickJWK
The four humours / temperaments ~ not to be completely written off
The four old 'humours' or temperaments aren't that removed from the use ~ emotions, high and low, cool and hot, the life in a place, or proof of it.
The four: sanguine, choleric, melancholic & phlegmatic ~ which includes the craic and the pain, and a balance between the four is probably preferred. I like the write up in Wikipedia ~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Temperaments
These 'humours' tie into tradition and history, the laughter and tears of a place, the heart of a place...
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by ceolachan
Re: tunes with humours
Thanks all,
got a better understanding now of ' Humours' from your links.
Well appreciated!
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by sandy2
I also think of humours as being like the weather, changeable and varied, as things are in general, rather than frozen and inflexible...
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by ceolachan
Re: tunes with humours
I don't know if "humours" and "spirits" are all that interchangeable. For one, "The Humours of St. Louis" is a pretty lame name for an airplane.
Humours has a different history of usage to it, different connotations.
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: tunes with humours
Unless it were a temperamental aircraft, which I don't have any problem imagining...
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by ceolachan
~ an acrobatic flyer...
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by ceolachan
Re: tunes with humours
I think I'll write a tune called the Humours of Enola Gay.
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: tunes with humours
Hahaha! Okay, I understand! Humours of Enola Gay- I can almost hear that tune already!
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by PatrickJWK
Re: tunes with humours
... in which case, you probably should have stayed at home yesterday ...
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by ethical blend
Humours of Enola Gay
sounds like a blast
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: tunes with humours
Sometimes used with more portable stuff ... like whiskey!
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by Clear Drops
Re: tunes with humours
(trying to lighten the conversation)
# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by Clear Drops
Re: tunes with humours
The bodhran part would be a cracker.
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by mcknowall
Re: tunes with humours
I was told that humour did not mean spirit, it meant spirits, ie whiskey. And back when so much liquor was brewed locally, what musician worth his salt wouldn't go from town to town sampling the local humours, and when they were found good, to write a tune about them.
Probably not true at all, but when presented to me, sounded pretty believable, although it might have just been the whiskey that made me believe!
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by AlBrown
Re: tunes with humours
The authoritative answer, of course, appears in this discussion.
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/20323
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: tunes with humours
Don't make me drag out my O.E.D.
~ Hey, that could be the makings of a song, something bluesy...
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by ceolachan
Re: tunes with humours
Yes, the Dictionary Blues with detailed definitions of all three chords and each and every one of the twelve measures.
# Posted on November 4th 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: tunes with humours
And I thought this was going to be a funny and maybe even humourous discussion.
# Posted on November 8th 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: tunes with humours
Mudcat thread on this:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=121845
# Posted on December 2nd 2009 by Jack Campin