Key signature: Edorian
Submitted on June 28th 2002 by The Whistler.
This tune has been added to 98 tunebooks.
Also known as Amhran Na Leabhar, Amhrán Na Leabhar, The Books' Song, Cuan Bhéil Inse, Cuen Bheil Inse, The Drowning Of The Books, Lament For The Books, Lament For The Lost Books, The Song For The Books, The Song For The Lost Books, Story Of The Books, Valentia Harbour.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Amhrán A Leabhair
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Edor
|:B2|E4F2|G4A2|Be3-e2-|e4f2|e4d2|B4A2|Bc d4-|d4e2|
E4F2|G4F2|GA B4-|B4A2|F4E2-|E4D2|E6-|E4:|
|:d2|e2e4|e4d2|ef g4-|g4f2|e4d2|B4A2|B6-|B4c2|
d6|d4c2|d2e4-|e4d2|B4A2|G4A2|B6-|B4B2|
E4F2|G4A2|B2e4-|e4f2|e4d2|B4A2|Bc d4-|d4e2|
E4F2|G4F2|GA B4-|B4A2|F2E4-|E4D2|E6-|E4:|
I found this nice slow air in a collection of Irish whistle tunes.
Does anyone know what the English name for it would be?
# Posted on June 28th 2002 by The Whistler
Amhran means song and leabhair means long or supple. The Long Song? Not likely.
# Posted on June 28th 2002 by Will CPT
Translation
As near as I can tell (with my rusty Irish), the title means something like "Reading The Books" or maybe "The Reading Of The Books".
Can anyone correct me on this one? Mairtin?
# Posted on June 28th 2002 by Jeremy
The sheet music for this doesn't seem to be working.
# Posted on June 29th 2002 by The Whistler
Translation
amhrán is song and leabhair is books, so it literaly translates as song for the books, but it really means lament for the books. as far as i know it was some irish poet that was crossing a streach of water when the boat sunk and he lost his books which ment the world to the poor sod. the full story is in gearóid o hAllmhuireanns, pocket history of irish music, thats as much as i can remember of hand.
great tune !
Máirtín.
# Posted on June 30th 2002 by martin t
Thanks, Máirtín!
# Posted on July 5th 2002 by The Whistler
Amhran na Leabhar
This tune is contained in Matt Cranith's The Irish Fiddle Book. The English name is given as The song of the Books. It is in Cranitch's book as an air in 4/4 time, and sounds really nice when he plays it on his demo CD. Mr. Cranitch gives a history of the air which he says was written by Tomas Rua O' Suilleabhain, the Iveragh poet and musician, after he lost all of his treasured books when the boat they were on going from Derrynane to Goleen hit a rock and sank.
# Posted on August 8th 2002 by pearse
This version is out of Geraldine Cotter's Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor (Ossian Publication). IMHO the best whistle Tutor ever. My book had two plastic singles included with examples and Geraldine explaining what she's doing. Some frines of mine thought it's a great crash course for english with an irish accent...
# Posted on November 12th 2003 by swisspiper
http://www.sceilig.com/amhran_na_leabhar.htm
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by Sean Logan
"'Amhrán na Leabhar" / "Cuan Bhéil Inse" ~ an old favourite
From the above valued link, and knowing such links can change or disappear:
WORDS: Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin (1785-1848)
"Tomás Rua, schoolteacher and poet had been transferred from Derrynane to Portmagee. He placed his huge and valuable library of books - both printed and in manuscript form, all leather bound - and his clothes on a boat which was travelling from Derrynane Bay to Valentia Harbour. He himself travelled by road. Unfortunately the boat overturned near Carraig EibhlÃn Nà Rathaille just outside Derrynane Bay and his priceless library was lost. 'Amhrán na Leabhar' also known as 'Cuan Bhéil Inse' was his poetic response and is probably his best known song which is also very popular with pipers as a slow air."
I empathize, having had similar experiences...
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by ceolachan
Trumpet
Call me crazy, but this air sounds amazing on the trumpet. Even better than it does on the fiddle. I just recently learnt this tune on the fiddle, and when I picked up my trumpet today after weeks of neglect, I decided on a whim to try this. It sounds incredible. I will never again knock the trumpet as a suitable instrument for ITM.
# Posted on May 1st 2007 by Joe CSS
Lovely version
There's a lovely version of this by the Kells at the following link
http://www.burkewhistles.com/product.php?productid=16173&cat=258&page=2
Enjoy
slán
# Posted on October 13th 2007 by Enigma