A friend just contacted me with the following request:
"I'm trying to find the correct title (in Gaelic) and sheet music for an Irish slow air whose title (in English) means something like "on the loss of the books"....written after some much treasured books were lost whilst being carried on horseback across an estuary I think. Any ideas?"
So does anyone know this tune?
If so, what is the title in Gaelic & can anyone point him in the direction of the music for this Air?
Amkráin an Leabhair.. Tony Mac Mahon does a really great version. Concerns books that were being carried on a currach from the Blaskets to the mainland that didn't make it. Can you really learn a slow air by notes?
As for notes, I know I certainly couldn't learn it by dots, but I think my friend is more used to notes, so if I can perhaps get him a sound file, youtube & some dots, he'll be happy.
" ... and a wonderful six-minute exploration of 'Amhran na Leabhar' which is a challenging and deeply moving piece commemorating the loss at sea of all the manuscripts by the great Irish poet Tomas Rua O Suilleabhain."
"The song to this air was written by Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin (1785-1848), a poet and musician from Iveragh (Uibh Ráitheach) or Derrynane, County Kerry. Irish musicologist Brendan Breathnach, writing in the periodical An Piobaire in 1983, identifies Ó Suilleabhain as a not only a poet, buy also a schoolteacher, fiddler and dancing master. Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin (in A Pocket History of Irish Traditional Music, 1998) gives that Tomas Rua worked as a hedge schoolmaster on the Iveragh peninsula in West Kerry, and “was one of the first poets to extol the greatness of (Irish politician) Daniel O’Connell, whom he saw as an heir to the Jacobite cause.” He had been acting-schoolmaster at Caherdaniel and was forced to transfer to Portmagee when another schoolmaster was appointed to the permanent position. As he was leaving he placed his belongings, including a treasured library of leather-bound books, for transport on a boat going from the harbour at Derrynane to Goleen (Goilin, Valentia Harbor), while he himself travelled by road. The boat struck a rock and capsized, and all cargo was lost, tragically along with the priceless collection of books. Coincidentally, on that same night Ó Súilleabháin’s clothing was accidentally burnt while he was sleeping, delaying his journey the next day until a tailor could be found to make a new suit for him. When he arrived at his destination and learned of the loss of his literary treasures, he was struck down ill, and on his recovery he was prompted to seek solace in song, composing 'Amhrán na Leabhar.'..."
"On the Loss of the Books"?
"On the Loss of the Books"?
A friend just contacted me with the following request:
"I'm trying to find the correct title (in Gaelic) and sheet music for an Irish slow air whose title (in English) means something like "on the loss of the books"....written after some much treasured books were lost whilst being carried on horseback across an estuary I think. Any ideas?"
So does anyone know this tune?
If so, what is the title in Gaelic & can anyone point him in the direction of the music for this Air?
Cheers
Dick
# Posted on March 14th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Amkráin an Leabhair.. Tony Mac Mahon does a really great version. Concerns books that were being carried on a currach from the Blaskets to the mainland that didn't make it. Can you really learn a slow air by notes?
# Posted on March 14th 2011 by big_tab
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Amhráin.
# Posted on March 14th 2011 by big_tab
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Many thanks big_tab.
As for notes, I know I certainly couldn't learn it by dots, but I think my friend is more used to notes, so if I can perhaps get him a sound file, youtube & some dots, he'll be happy.
Cheers
Dick
# Posted on March 14th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
I've just listened to that on Come West Along The Road 3. It is a wonderful tune.
# Posted on March 14th 2011 by wodeninjun
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
This should keep him happy, tab!
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUeYmIz76ks
Dots: http://www.micksvirtualwhistle.net/whistle/amhran.html
ABCs & Comments: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/814
Cheers
Dick
# Posted on March 14th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Thats a nice version for your friend Dick.The ultimate version ,I think, would be Mac Mahons.Its one beautiful tune.
# Posted on March 15th 2011 by big_tab
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Thanks tab, I'll pass this on to him, too!
Tony MacMahon - Macmahon From Clare:
" ... and a wonderful six-minute exploration of 'Amhran na Leabhar' which is a challenging and deeply moving piece commemorating the loss at sea of all the manuscripts by the great Irish poet Tomas Rua O Suilleabhain."
http://claddaghrecords.com/WWW/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2757
Cheers,
Dick
# Posted on March 15th 2011 by Ptarmigan
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
That air sounds much better without accompaniment, IMO. Eilis Kennedy sings a very nice version of it: http://www.copperplatemailorder.com/uploads/kennedy6.mp3
# Posted on March 15th 2011 by kennedy
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Not that you couldn't have found this yourself, but there's a much more detailed description here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/air.htm
"The song to this air was written by Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin (1785-1848), a poet and musician from Iveragh (Uibh Ráitheach) or Derrynane, County Kerry. Irish musicologist Brendan Breathnach, writing in the periodical An Piobaire in 1983, identifies Ó Suilleabhain as a not only a poet, buy also a schoolteacher, fiddler and dancing master. Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin (in A Pocket History of Irish Traditional Music, 1998) gives that Tomas Rua worked as a hedge schoolmaster on the Iveragh peninsula in West Kerry, and “was one of the first poets to extol the greatness of (Irish politician) Daniel O’Connell, whom he saw as an heir to the Jacobite cause.” He had been acting-schoolmaster at Caherdaniel and was forced to transfer to Portmagee when another schoolmaster was appointed to the permanent position. As he was leaving he placed his belongings, including a treasured library of leather-bound books, for transport on a boat going from the harbour at Derrynane to Goleen (Goilin, Valentia Harbor), while he himself travelled by road. The boat struck a rock and capsized, and all cargo was lost, tragically along with the priceless collection of books. Coincidentally, on that same night Ó Súilleabháin’s clothing was accidentally burnt while he was sleeping, delaying his journey the next day until a tailor could be found to make a new suit for him. When he arrived at his destination and learned of the loss of his literary treasures, he was struck down ill, and on his recovery he was prompted to seek solace in song, composing 'Amhrán na Leabhar.'..."
# Posted on March 15th 2011 by Georgi
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrt6Xkkq-co
# Posted on March 15th 2011 by Oeidipus
"Amrhán na Leabhar"
CD: "Éilís Kennedy: Time to Sail" ~ track 6: "Amrhán na Leabhar"
http://www.copperplatemailorder.com/
http://www.copperplatemailorder.com/copp005.html
# Posted on March 15th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Matt Cranitch plays a lovely version on the last Sliabh Notes album
# Posted on March 15th 2011 by Buck
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
Or try Tommie Cunniffe's version on his "Unbuttoned" album by the title of "Life's Love Lost"
# Posted on March 16th 2011 by boxdad
Re: "On the Loss of the Books"?
It's on Seamus Begley and Tim Edey - Disgrace Notes also...version with Box Guitar and Vocals
# Posted on July 15th 2011 by del_c